2026 will mark Jack Coons' 43rd year working with the UAlbany softball program.
Honors and Accomplishments
- 2011 NFCA Division I Northeast Region Staff of the Year
- 8 NCAA Tournament Appearances (2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2024)
- 2007 NCAA Regional Final Appearance
- 8 America East Conference Tournament Champions (2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2024)
- 7 America East Conference Regular-Season Titles (2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2024)
- Has coached:
- 7 America East Pitchers of the Year
- Wendi Hammond (2024), Celeste Verdolivo (2018), Brittany MacFawn (2013), Leah McIntosh (2009), Casey Halloran (2006), Amanda Morin (2005), Andee Lindgren (2003)
- 57 Pitchers of the Week
Coaching Experience
- Volunteer Assistant Coach, University at Albany (1982-present)
At UAlbany
Since his arrival at UAlbany in 1982, Coons has been an integral part of the Great Danes' success while managing the pitching staff.
Coons' most recent America East Pitcher of the Year came from Wendi Hammond. The seventh Great Dane to earn this award, she went 24-10 in the circle throughout the season. She finished the regular-season with a 1.98 ERA and led the league in just about every pitcher stat possible (21 wins, 7 shutouts, 19 complete games, 24 starts, 162.1 IP, 1.64 league-only ERA) while throwing only two wild pitches, allowing less than a hit an inning on average, and walking just 50 batters.
Before Hammond, there was Celeste Verdolivo. The sixth Great Dane to earn this award, she went 13-2 in the circle, tying for the lead in victories in the conference. Second with a 1.83 ERA overall, while owning a 1.77 league ERA, she held opposing hitters to a .218 average, allowing just 84 hits in 103.1 innings pitched. Verdolivo, along with Maranda Jimenez, led the Great Danes to the 2018 America East title after playing UMass Lowell in two games on the final day of the tournament.
Coaching his fifth America East Pitcher of the Year in 10 seasons, Coons led Brittany MacFawn ‘14 to own one of the most dominant years in the circle in league history. The junior right-hander won the conference’s pitching triple crown as she led the America East in wins (27), earned run average (1.64), and strikeouts (283). MacFawn allowed just 179 hits in a league-high 256.1 innings of work, holding foes to a .193 batting average. A four-time America East Pitcher of the Week, MacFawn was even better in league-play, going 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA and 123 punchouts.
After landing on the America East Conference All-Rookie Team in 2007 and being named a first team all-conference selection as well as an all-region second-team pick in 2008, Leah McIntosh became the fourth different pitcher in seven seasons to be named the America East Pitcher of the Year in 2009. McIntosh threw a national-best four perfect games and became the career leader in strikeouts (621). She also led the league in earned run average for the second straight time and went on to compete for the Canadian National Softball Team over the summer.
Casey Halloran ‘07 finished at the top of several UAlbany career charts under Coons' guidance. She graduated as the career leader in wins (73), complete games (68), innings pitched (650.2), games started (97) and appearances (125). In 2006, Halloran became Coons' third trainee in four years to be named the America East Pitcher of the Year. She had a record of 27-10 as a junior, a 1.51 ERA and a school-record 252 strikeouts. Halloran also recorded three no-hitters and the school's first perfect game in the program's history. She followed Amanda Morin, who posted a 1.06 ERA with eight shutouts and a 16-3 record on the season, as the conference's Pitcher of the Year in 2005.
Coons' 2004 staff had two pitchers reach double figures in wins (Andee Lindgren and Halloran) and had a conference-leading ERA of 1.78. Lindgren, the 2004 conference player of the year, combined for 38 victories, 350 strikeouts, 40 complete games and 13 shutouts in two seasons. He also guided Halloran to a 10-game winning streak and an 11-3 overall record.
In 2003, the staff ranked 21st in the nation with a 1.43 ERA, which led the America East. UAlbany also ranked first in the conference in five other categories: wins (34), runs allowed (90), earned runs (61), saves (6) and opposing batting average (.202).
During the 2002 season, UAlbany was second in fewest earned runs and shutouts, third in ERA and fewest hits, and fourth in strikeouts.
During their short tenure in Division II, UAlbany won the ECAC tournament in 1999.
While in Division III, the Great Danes pitching staff recorded the nation's lowest ERA (0.34), and the record for the most strikeouts per seven innings (12.41). Both marks were established in 1995. UAlbany also won the NYSWCAA tournament three times.
Personal
Coons and his wife, Barbara, reside in Schenectady, N.Y. Together they have a son, Brian, and daughter, Jennifer. They have one grandson, Leo, and a granddaughter, Maya.
Last updated May 2025
