Mercy College Director of Athletics Patricia Kennedy named Mike Fazio the head coach for the Mavericks’ softball program prior to the 2011 season after he served two seasons as an assistant coach.

“Mike Fazio certainly is the right person to lead this program into the future,” Kennedy said. “He knows the game, knows our student-athletes and provides continuity for the program.”

Fazio took charge of the team following a 19-win season in 2010 that was the best since 1985 and included eight East Coast Conference victories, and promptly improved on those totals with an impressive 21-23 season with a 14-14 mark in ECC play.  The team qualified in fourth for the ECC Championship, advancing to Game Five of the double-elimination tournament before bowing out to Dowling College, which the Mavericks had already beaten in Game Two.

Fazio came to Mercy with over 25 years of softball coaching experience. His most recent position was at Joel Barlow High School (Redding, Conn.) where he was a varsity assistant softball coach. At Barlow he was responsible for running practices, assisting in strategic in-game decisions, recruiting and scheduling.

From 1996-2007, Fazio was the assistant coach at Danbury High School in Danbury, Conn., where he helped guide the Hatters to nine postseason appearances and twice reached the semi-finals in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC). He also was an assistant coach for Danbury's varsity girl’s basketball program.

Fazio has had success heading travel tournament teams as well. He coached the U-14 Danbury Debs into the U-14 Pony National Tournament, guided the U-23 Danbury Debs to several tournament championships and took the U-18 Western Connecticut Firebirds to two national tournament appearances. He also coached in the Danbury Women's Fast Pitch Softball League and captured a division or tournament championship in all but one season from 1980-1991.

He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Iona College and resides in Danbury, Conn. with his wife Carol.