Kate Refsnyder Hired as Brown Softball Head Coach
8/9/2018 10:21:00 AM | Softball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Kate Refsnyder, the head coach at Hamilton College in 2018 and an assistant coach at Brown from 2014-17, has been named the head softball coach at Brown University in an announcement made by Bears' Director of Athletics Jack Hayes.
"Kate Refsnyder has both experience as a head coach and a high level of familiarity with our program after spending four seasons at Brown as an assistant coach," Hayes said. "We know that she will use these experiences to her advantage and are thrilled to welcome her back to the Brown community."
Refsnyder spent the 2018 season revitalizing the program at Hamilton, leading the team to set single-season school records for runs and put-outs. She spent the prior four seasons at Brown, helping the program increase its win total, improve its RPI, and better its team batting average and ERA during her tenure.
"I am beyond excited to return to Brown and would like to thank Jack Hayes and the entire search committee for this opportunity," Refsnyder said. "I know how much potential this program has, and I look forward to maximizing that potential as soon as I begin."
During the 2017 campaign, Refsnyder helped Brown usher in its first season in its new stadium as the Bears set a single-season program record with 32 home runs. She guided four All-Ivy honorees for the third straight season as Annie McGregor '18, Christina Andrews '17, Julia Schoenewald '17, and Meghan Wimmer '19 gained all-conference accolades.
In 2016, Refsnyder coached a quartet of All-Ivy honorees as Yeram Park '18, Andrews, Sarah Syrop '17, and Janet Leung '16 all earned the accolades. Refsnyder mentored four All-Ivy performers in 2015 in Leung, Syrop, Katie Orona '18, and Leah Nakashima '17. In 2014, she coached a pair of Second Team All-Ivy selections in Andrews and Leung.
Refsnyder completed two one-season stints as the head coach at Albright College – a Division III school in Reading, Pa. – first in 2009 and again in 2013. During her second tenure, Refsnyder guided the Lions to their most wins since 2008, landed four players on All-Conference teams, and revamped a pitching staff that tossed a perfect game and two no-hitters, while lowering its ERA by 3.67 runs per game.
At Coastal Carolina University from 2010-12, Refsnyder served three seasons as an assistant coach and helped steer the Chanticleers to a 2012 Big South Championship and an NCAA tournament appearance. Along with enhancing on-the-field performance, Refsnyder was instrumental in organizing camps and clinics and orchestrating community service projects.
Prior to her first Division I coaching job at Coastal Carolina, Refsnyder worked as an assistant coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2008 and as a graduate assistant coach at East Stroudsburg University, where she earned her master's degree in Sport Management in 2006.
Refsnyder was a four-year member of the softball team at Wagner College, where she pitched and played second and third base for the Seahawks. As a senior, she earned Second Team All-Northeast Conference honors as a utility player. Refsnyder completed her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Wagner in 2005.
"Kate Refsnyder has both experience as a head coach and a high level of familiarity with our program after spending four seasons at Brown as an assistant coach," Hayes said. "We know that she will use these experiences to her advantage and are thrilled to welcome her back to the Brown community."
Refsnyder spent the 2018 season revitalizing the program at Hamilton, leading the team to set single-season school records for runs and put-outs. She spent the prior four seasons at Brown, helping the program increase its win total, improve its RPI, and better its team batting average and ERA during her tenure.
"I am beyond excited to return to Brown and would like to thank Jack Hayes and the entire search committee for this opportunity," Refsnyder said. "I know how much potential this program has, and I look forward to maximizing that potential as soon as I begin."
During the 2017 campaign, Refsnyder helped Brown usher in its first season in its new stadium as the Bears set a single-season program record with 32 home runs. She guided four All-Ivy honorees for the third straight season as Annie McGregor '18, Christina Andrews '17, Julia Schoenewald '17, and Meghan Wimmer '19 gained all-conference accolades.
In 2016, Refsnyder coached a quartet of All-Ivy honorees as Yeram Park '18, Andrews, Sarah Syrop '17, and Janet Leung '16 all earned the accolades. Refsnyder mentored four All-Ivy performers in 2015 in Leung, Syrop, Katie Orona '18, and Leah Nakashima '17. In 2014, she coached a pair of Second Team All-Ivy selections in Andrews and Leung.
Refsnyder completed two one-season stints as the head coach at Albright College – a Division III school in Reading, Pa. – first in 2009 and again in 2013. During her second tenure, Refsnyder guided the Lions to their most wins since 2008, landed four players on All-Conference teams, and revamped a pitching staff that tossed a perfect game and two no-hitters, while lowering its ERA by 3.67 runs per game.
At Coastal Carolina University from 2010-12, Refsnyder served three seasons as an assistant coach and helped steer the Chanticleers to a 2012 Big South Championship and an NCAA tournament appearance. Along with enhancing on-the-field performance, Refsnyder was instrumental in organizing camps and clinics and orchestrating community service projects.
Prior to her first Division I coaching job at Coastal Carolina, Refsnyder worked as an assistant coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2008 and as a graduate assistant coach at East Stroudsburg University, where she earned her master's degree in Sport Management in 2006.
Refsnyder was a four-year member of the softball team at Wagner College, where she pitched and played second and third base for the Seahawks. As a senior, she earned Second Team All-Northeast Conference honors as a utility player. Refsnyder completed her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Wagner in 2005.
Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballHittin’ the PEMDAS…IYKYK
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