Post University Athletics

Meet the Staff - Tracey Garofalo

Tracey Garofalo enters in her 14th season as the head softball coach at Post University in 2021. A 2002 Post University alumnae, Garofalo is committed to her student-athletes achieving excellence academically and athletically during their four-year careers at Post.
 
Over the course of her coaching career at Post, Garofalo has mentored 21 All-CACC selections, including nine first-team choices in Amy Mantha (2011), Lianna May (2012), Jackie Bonamassa (2014), Samantha Esque (2015-16), Kayla Kresley (2015-17) and Emily Schaffer (2018). Esque was also named CACC Pitcher of the Year in both 2015 and 2016 The Eagles made the CACC Tournament four consecutive seasons from 2009-2012. The 2014 CACC Coach of the Year, Garofalo holds the record for most all-time wins (265) since the program joined Division II.

The 2021 season was one of the most successful seasons in recent years, as the Eagles finished 17-9 on the year while making the CACC semifinals, defeating Goldey-Beacom and Chestnut Hill before losing to eventual champion Georgian Court. Senior pitcher Bridget Betley and freshman shortstop Caitlin DeAngelis made the All-CACC second team. Third baseman Bailee Zaccaro made the CACC All-Tournament team. 

In 2020, the Eagles were off to a hot start before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the season, going 7-3 during their spring break trip in Florida. During the abbreviated season, Brianna Rotunno set a school record with three home runs in a game in a 5-2 over the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Demi Rivera led the CACC in ERA with 0.42.

During the 2019 season, the Eagles finished fifth in the CACC with a 23-21 overall record and a 14-12 record in conference and defeating Dominican 5-4 in the first round of the CACC Tournament. Kasey Jusino was named to the All-CACC second team as a freshman. Demi Rivera was named to the CACC All-Tournament team. The Eagles were second in the CACC in doubles with 70, and fourth in extra base hits with 94. Jusino and Rivera both led the team with 17 extra base hits apiece. Allyson Wallauer led the Eagles with six home runs.

The 2018 season for the Eagles saw them finish in fifth place, with a 19-26 overall record and a 16-10 record in the CACC. Emily Schaffer made the All-CACC First team. She finished third in the CACC in batting average at .417, and was first in doubles in the CACC with 17. She also finished in the top ten in runs (39) and hits (55). The Eagles won their first game in the CACC Tournament, defeating Dominican, 8-0. Demi Rivera was named to the All Tournament team.

In 2017, the Eagles finished in eighth place in the CACC, finishing with a 12-14 record in the CACC and a 19-27 record overall. Kayla Kresley was named to the All-CACC First Team as she finished eighth in the CACC with six home runs, fourth in walks with 22 and fourth in both on baseb percentage (.477) and slugging percentage (.660). Erica Ragazzone was named to the second team. She finished tied for second in the CACC in home runs with nine and was tenth in slugging percentage at .560.

2014 was a historical season for Garofalo's Eagles. Garofalo led Post to a 24-22 record, its most wins since the 2011 season. She also guided the Eagles to an 18-8 record in the CACC, the most conference wins for the team since joining the league in 2002. On April 27, Garofalo became the all-time wins leader in program history since Post became a Division II institution. She finished the season with 147 career victories. Leading the Eagles to the No. 3 seed in the CACC Tournament after being projected to finish ninth in the preseason, Garofalo was named CACC Coach of the Year.
 
In 2012, the Eagles experienced new levels of success highlighted by a third place finish in the CACC Tournament, the best result in program history. Additionally, Post led all softball programs in the conference with six student-athletes on the CACC Spring All-Academic Team. On the field, Lianna May was a First Team All-Conference selection after she finished the campaign on a 19-game hit streak against CACC foes, while she and Stephanie DeMartino were tabbed to the CACC All-Tournament Team. The Eagles opened the season 4-0 in CACC play for the first time in program history, and Garofalo earned her 100^th career victory.
 
During the 2011 campaign, Garofalo had two players rank in the top-seven in the CACC in batting average. Mantha ranked sixth with an average of .385 and DeMartino who hit at a clip of .382, and as a team Post finished third in average and sat second in runs scored with 223.
 
Prior to her time at Post, Garofalo was the assistant girls’ basketball coach at Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury for five seasons. She helped the Hearts to four postseason appearances and a spot in the Class S State Championship contest. She also served  as the head coach of the softball program for one year and led the squad to a berth in the Class S State Semifinals and a 10-8 record.
 
As a two-sport student-athlete at Post, she finished her basketball career as the all-time leading scorer at 1,510 points, an average of 13.9 per game. She also added 596 rebounds and 239 assists. Garofalo was a two-time women’s basketball most valuable player. In softball, she picked up Second Team All-CACC honors as a freshman, and she was named Post Athlete of the Year in 2000.
 
Garofalo earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Post University in 2002, and her master’s from the University of Bridgeport in English Education. She resides in Bristol, Conn.