Following the SUNY New Paltz softball team’s victory against Rutgers-Camden, Head Coach Krysti Neufeldt reached her 100th career win as a New Paltz coach. This milestone is not only a major individual accomplishment, but it writes Neufeldt in the Hawks record books as the fastest coach to reach 100 career wins.
“100 wins is an awesome experience,” Neufeldt said. “I am glad to have accomplished this here at SUNY New Paltz.”
Before coming to New Paltz, Neufeldt coached at both the collegiate and travel levels. From 2015-2018, Neufeldt coached the South Jersey Gators travel softball team, while also being the assistant coach of the Rowan University softball team from 2014-2018. A former student-athlete of Rowan herself, she still holds the records for single-season strikeouts and strikeout ratio, as well as career Earned Run Average and strikeout ratio.
After taking over for the previous program coach, Samantha Miller, Neufeldt was able to flip the teams’ previous 14-21-1 record in 2018 to 26-12 the following season, with an impressive 12-6 conference record. In only her first year at the helm, Neufeldt led the Hawks to the SUNYAC tournament with a winning record.
Following the 2020 season, which ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hawks acquired a 6-10 overall and 4-8 conference record during the shortened 2021 campaign, just missing the mark for the SUNYAC tournament.
In 2022, Neufeldt and the Hawks had a breakout season, recording the most wins in program history. Victories against non-conference teams like Utica and Alfred, along with wins against conference powerhouses such as Cortland and Oneonta, allowed the Hawks to rack up an impressive 27-17 overall record, going 12-6 in the conference. The team also dominated at home, defeating 10 out of 12 teams on Mary Gray Deane Field. Neufeldt led the squad to the SUNYAC tournament before suffering a loss to Cortland in the semifinals.
In her 2023 campaign, Neufeldt coached the Hawks in the most successful season the team has had, leading the Hawks to a 31-13 overall and a 16-2 conference record. This successful regular season run allowed the Hawks to secure their first No.1 seed in the SUNYAC tournament in program history.
The team reached the SUNYAC semifinals once again, but fell to Geneseo in a heartbreaking loss. Despite the loss, awards came flooding in for the team, including seven all-conference selections, one SUNYAC Player of the Year, one SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year and SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors granted to Neufeldt and her assistant coaches Rick Spriggs and Taylor LaFrance. This marked another historical accolade for Neufeldt, as this was the first Coaching Staff of the Year accolade in SUNY New Paltz history.
“We have been able to bring in some very talented, skilled and hard working young ladies who have all had goals of elevating the softball program here,” Neufeldt said. She also gives credit to “being surrounded by an athletic department who supports the success of our teams.”
The Hawks have been on fire since the start of their schedule. Returning 16 players from the previous year and bringing in an impressive recruiting class, they have all the pieces to produce success. Overall, they boast a 12-4 record, defeating tough non-conference opponents such as Muhlenberg College, New York University and William Pace University in their season opener. Heading into conference play, Neufeldt will lead the squad against SUNYAC opponents Cortland and Oswego, facing both teams in doubleheader competitions. SUNY New Paltz plays Cortland on April 5 at 3 and 5 p.m. and Oswego the following day at 12 and 2 p.m.
“I think that the 100 wins is a culmination of everyone working together,” said Neufeldt. “[Working] to achieve big things and always striving to get better.”