Montclair State has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2004 New Jersey Athletic Conference Softball Championship in a poll of the conference's 10 head coaches. The Red Hawks, who finished third in the 2003 NJAC regular season with a 12-6 conference record, advanced to the 2003 NJAC Tournament Championship game before falling to eventual league winner William Paterson. Overall, Montclair State finished the 2003 season with a 36-9 record while winning their fourth consecutive ECAC Division III South Championship.

Under the direction of 14th-year head coach Anita Kubicka, Montclair has posted a record of 411-161-1. The Red Hawks return four members of the 2003 All-Conference team including third baseman Kari McDonnell, pitcher Crystal Sweeney, and infielders Athanasia Totaro and Diana Auteri. 

Ramapo, who finished first in the 2003 NJAC regular season with a perfect 18-0 record and received an at-large selection to the 2003 NCAA Division III Tournament, finished second in the poll. The Roadrunners return five 2003 NJAC All-Conference selections including both the reining NJAC Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year in lefthander Jamie Anzaldi and outfielder Erica Moore respectively. Other Ramapo all-conference returners include third baseman Michelle Micklos, outfielder Andrea Pastiglione and catcher Lisa Rizzo. 
 
Rounding out the rest of the finishers in the preseason poll are Rutgers-Camden in third, Rowan in fourth, defending champion William Paterson in fifth, TCNJ in sixth, Richard Stockton - the coaches' dark horse selection - in seventh, Kean in eighth, NJCU in ninth and Rutgers-Newark in 10th.

While non-conference play begins on March 5 when Rowan travels for a weekend series at Virginia Wesleyan, conference play in the NJAC will not begin until March 27. The NJAC regular season will conclude on April 24 with all 10 teams in doubleheader action.

The Top Four conference finishers will advance to the 2004 NJAC Tournament, April 29-May 1 at the home field of the top-seeded team. The winner of the double-elimination tournament receives the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.