Mercy College Director of Athletics Patricia Kennedy has named Mike Fazio the head coach for the Mavericks’ softball program. Fazio takes the reins after a two-year stint as an assistant coach. He will continue to serve as the head men’s and women’s cross country 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.”

He takes charge of a team that saw 19 wins overall in 2010, including eight victories in the East Coast Conference. The 19 wins is three more than a year ago, and the highest number since 1985, when Mercy posted a 19-9 record.

Fazio came to Mercy College with over 25 years of softball coaching experience. Fazio's most recent position was at Joel Barlow High School (Redding, Conn.) where he was a varsity girls 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 in Danbury's varsity girl’s basketball program.

Fazio has had success on 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.

Ron LoValvo has been added as an assistant coach for the Mercy College softball team. He will serve as a part-time coach under Head Coach Mike Fazio.

The Danbury, Conn., resident is no stranger to Coach Fazio, as the two had worked together coaching travel ball from 2004 through 2008. 

A graduate of Western Connecticut State in 1981, LoValvo brings a wealth of coaching experience to Mercy.  In addition to his many years as a football coach, where his teams have won regional and two national titles, he began coaching softball in 1998 with Danbury Youth Softball.  He later worked with the Danbury Heat, the Danbury Debs, and the Connecticut Panthers travel teams.

LoValvo is married, and works for the Town of Ridgefield (Conn.) Parks and Recreation Department.

Former Mercy College softball standout Krissy Lacik has been named an Assistant Coach for the softball team, Head Coach Mike Fazio announced today.  The Edison, N.J. native is pursuing a masters degree at Mercy after having graduated last year with a bachelor of science in health science.  Her primary duties will include overseeing strength and conditioning and working with the outfielders.

Lacik served as a captain for last year's Mavericks squad which earned its first-ever East Coast Conference postseason appearance, garnering multiple individual awards for both athletics and academics.

Lacik overcome a horrific knee injury in just the second game of her freshman season to become one of the most accomplished players in Mercy history, finishing her career with a .320 batting average and ranking third all-time in total bases (159), fourth in hits (120) and runs batted in (55), sixth in doubles (15), seventh in runs scored (63), eighth in home runs (four) and 10^th in triples (six) and slugging percentage (.424).  She earned the ECC's John Smile Award in 2009 for overcoming her physical hardship to excel in the sport and was named to the ECC Commissioner's Honor Roll and an Academic All-American by the NFCA in 2011.

The Mavericks will look to build on last year's unprecedented success this spring as they challenge for the top spot in the ECC.

Mercy College head softball coach Mike Fazio announced today the hiring of Marc J. Della Volpe as an assistant softball coach for the spring 2012 season.  Della Volpe will work with the pitchers and outfielders while also being responsible for camp and clinic operations as well as assisting in recruiting.

Della Volpe joins the Mavericks with four years of Division I coaching experience, having coached at nearby Fordham University from 2001-04, during which time he was a member of the 2003 Atlantic 10 Coaching Staff of the Year.  More recently, he worked as an assistant at Manhattan College from 2004-05 before taking a head coaching position at Montclair Kimberly Academy, where he led the varsity squad to a state title.

A graduate of Belford University, Della Volpe earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in educational administration after receiving an associate's degree from Essex County College.  He attended Belleville High School in Belleville, N.J.

Della Volpe resides in Nutley, N.J.