New Paltz, NY — After six seasons, two-time reigning SUNYAC Coach of the Year Krysti Neufeldt has stepped down as head coach for the Hawks softball program, accepting the head coaching position at Randolph Macon University.
 
Leaving behind a storied legacy, Neufeldt departs as the most decorated coach in program history turning the team in a perennial program that has ascended since she took over in the fall of 2018.
 
"For us Krysti has come in and built a solid foundation which we're extremely thankful for and for that we wish her nothing but success in the future, but as we move forward, we're looking for someone who is going to build on that and take us to new heights," Bostic said.
 
On her staff as the lead assist through the last four seasons, helping to bring the team its first ever championship last spring, Rick Spriggs will be promoted to Interim Head Coach affective immediately.
 
"We are promoting assistant coach Rick Spriggs to Interim head coach to keep the ship moving as he's been a part of the process and the success of this program for the last several years," said SUNY New Paltz Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation Renee Bostic.
 
Neufeldt has brought SUNY New Paltz softball unprecedented success. She leaves as the winningest coach in program history with a career record of 127-62-1. She was the quickest to reach 100 career wins in program history and brought the University its first SUNYAC softball championship last spring after hosting the tournament for the second straight season with the Hawks' first trip into the NCAA Tournament.
 
Additionally, she was the first coach since the program's inception to put together consecutive 30-plus win seasons, and in the last three years re-set the win mark for the team including a record 36-8 finish in 2024, which included the team's first ever win in the NCAA Tournament. Neufeldt coached two SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year selections in 2024 graduate Lindsay Roman with current senior Jackie Rometo becoming the Hawks' first ever SUNYAC Player of the Year. She also coached 15 total All-SUNYAC selections and five All-Region picks, while guiding SUNY New Paltz to four conference tournament appearances.
 
Although the team graduated seven pivotal seniors from last year's SUNYAC Championship run, they return six starters including four All-SUNYAC picks from last year and All-Region selection Jaycee Filancia while bringing in a strong incoming class who are eyeing a back-to-back SUNYAC title and an NCAA appearance in 2025.
 
"I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to lead the softball program at New Paltz the last six years," Neufeldt. "I'm extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish together, and I am appreciative for the support for both myself and the program that we have received from the athletic department and College. I know that the best is yet to come for New Paltz softball, and I am looking forward to seeing it continue to grow."
 

 
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