SELINSGROVE, PA (November 4, 2022) – Athletic Director Sharief Hashim announced the appointment of Caressa DeRossett as the new head coach of the Susquehanna University softball program on Tuesday morning. DeRossett takes the helm as the ninth coach in the history of the program.

DeRossett comes to Susquehanna having spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Wheeling University in West Virginia, her first head coaching position after spending four years at Alfred University as an assistant, a graduate assistant for three before being elevated to a full-time assistant in her fourth year.

"We're excited to welcome Caressa DeRossett to the campus community," said Hashim. "Caressa brings an exciting balance of enthusiasm and experience to the position.  Her passion for student development and background coaching pitching and defense makes her an excellent fit for our department and student-athletes."

Coach DeRossett's journey has spanned multiple states and NCAA Divisions, with her playing career starting at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado, then moving to Ohlone Junior College in California, before wrapping up at Division II institution University of Wisconsin-Parkside. With her coaching career having begun at the Division III level at Alfred, she now returns to Division III bringing success and experience at multiple levels of collegiate athletics.

DeRossett handled pitch calling for an Alfred staff that was one of the strongest in the Empire 8 Conference. Over the 12-game shortened 2020 season, the Saxons' pitching staff posted a 1.59 earned run average (25th in Division III) with five shutouts (tied for eighth in Division III). In the final game of the shortened season, Alfred pitcher Jessica Wilcox tossed a perfect-game and struck out 12 with DeRossett calling in the pitches from the dugout.

"I would like to thank Director of Athletics Sharief Hashim and the hiring committee for this extraordinary opportunity to be the next Head Softball Coach at Susquehanna University," said DeRossett. "I feel so honored and humbled to become part of this highly successful program and work with this exceptional group of women.  Coach Posner did a remarkable job creating a consistent winning culture and I intend to pick up where he left off and continue the growth of it. I plan to waste no time and jumping right in with the team to continue preparation for season 2023."

DeRossett earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at Wisconsin-Parkside in 2017 and a master's degree in College Student Development from Alfred in 2020.

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