NJAC NEWS ARCHIVE

 2002-03

March 21, 2003


WILLIAM PATERSON'S COHEN CAPTURES
400TH SOFTBALL COACHING VICTORY


PIONEER COACH REACHES MILESTONE IN VICTORY OVER ALLEGHENY


William Paterson softball coach Hallie Cohen picked up her 400th career coaching win on March 21 as the Pioneers defeated Allegheny, 3-0 in Ocoee, FL. With the victory, Cohen's career coaching record improved to 400-276-1. Cohen's 677 collegiate games coached include nine seasons at William Paterson and 15 seasons at FDU-Florham. Her victory total ranks her among the Top 10 coaches all-time in NCAA Division III.

Cohen is the fourth coach at William Paterson to have posted 400 career victories, and the second this school year. Women's volleyball coach Sandy Ferrarella reached the milestone with her Pioneer program on October 19, 2002. Baseball coach Jeff Albies and swimming and diving coach Ed Gurka have also amassed 400 or more victories in their careers.

"The kids were really pumped up, but it's not something that I really thought about," Cohen said after the game. "I really believe that your players recognize the effort, hard work and time you put in and they mimic it. It's nice to know that kids see your passion and they want to do the same things for you year in and year out. I just enjoy coaching them and being part of their lives."

During her tenure with the Pioneers, Cohen has led the Pioneers to three trips to the NCAA Division III softball playoffs, including the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division III Softball Championships in 2001 as her team won a school-record 39 games. During her tenure, the Pioneers
captured their first New Jersey Athletic Conference championship in 1999 and finished the 2002 regular season atop the NJAC for the first time in their history.

Overall, Cohen is 176-111 at William Paterson, including a 94-30 record the past three seasons. In addition, she has coached five All-Americans during her tenure: Morgan Dunlap (2001-02), Courtney Heller (2002), Lauren Hertzberg (2000-01), Sam Kszepka (2002) and Diane Naugle (1999-2001), the
2001-02 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) and NJAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Cohen is a graduate of Wayne Valley High School who played softball and field hockey on scholarship at Rutgers University before graduating in 1980 with a B.S. in physical education and health. Before she became a college coach, she played professionally with the Budweiser Belles.