University of Connecticut

University of Connecticut Athletics
2095 Hillside Rd, Unit 1173 Storrs, CT 06269

Division 1 Connecticut Northeast

Public Large National competitor

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Coaches

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Laura Valentino

Laura Valentino was announced as the head coach on July 3, 2019 by director of athletics David Benedict.

"I am so honored and excited to be the next head softball coach at UConn," Valentino said. I want to thank David, Adrianne Swinney, Jamelle Elliott and their staff for this amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to working with them in building a championship culture at UConn. The future is bright for UConn softball and I can't wait to get to work in achieving greatness on and off the field."

Most recently, Valentino was an assistant coach at Duke, which initiated its program prior to the 2018 season. Her primary responsibilities while on the Blue Devils' coaching staff was infield play, catching, and offensive strategy. Duke posted a 54-58 record in its first two years of existence and the team finished tied for third in the ACC Coastal Division in 2019.

In its inaugural season, Duke's 13 conference wins were headlined by four series victories, including a sweep of Boston College. Last season, Duke finished with the highest fielding percentage in the ACC and was ranked No. 22 nationally in the category. The Blue Devils also completed the season second in doubles, tied for fourth in triples and fifth in hits.

"We met with several impressive candidates during this interview process but Laura set herself apart with her energy, passion and preparation," Benedict said. "During her time as an assistant coach, Laura has enjoyed a great deal of success and the experience she gained during the implementation of the Duke softball program should prove invaluable as she endeavors to build a championship culture here at UConn. This is an exciting time for UConn and I know our softball team is in good hands."

Valentino mentored a pair of ACC All-Freshman team picks and an All-ACC First Team selection. Additionally, Valentino has helped develop several NFCA Scholar-Athletes, a trio of ACC All-Academic selections, and 12 student-athletes on the ACC Honor Roll.

Before her time in Durham, N.C., she spent three seasons at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. While with the 49ers, her primary responsibilities were student-athlete development on both sides of the mound, overall strategy, and catching.

Charlotte tallied a 30-win campaign in 2016, a feat not seen since 2010, and matched that the following season. Valentino's stint in Charlotte produced a pair of All-Conference student-athletes, an All-Freshman selection, two All-Region honorees, a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American and the 2017 Conference USA Championship.

Valentino also spent three seasons at Fairfield where she assisted with the offense, defense, pitching and catching, in addition to recruiting and administrative duties.

During her tenure, the Stags won a pair of regular season championships and advanced to the conference tournament final on two occasions. In 2014, she coached four First Team All-MAAC selections, including the MAAC Pitcher and Player of the Year.

A 2011 graduate of Hofstra University with a degree in physical education (K-12), Valentino was a four-year letterwinner at the designated player, infield, and catching positions. She was a part of the two winningest seasons in program history—45 wins in both 2008 and 2010. She started 84 games and capped her collegiate career with a spot on the NFCA Scholar-Athlete team with a career record of 156-59.

A native of Smithtown, N.Y. and 2014 Smithtown High School Hall of Fame inductee, Valentino earned her master's degree in special education from Fairfield in 2013.

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Christie Novatin

Christie Novatin joined the UConn coaching staff July 2019.

With more than nine years of experience as a softball coach, Novatin comes to Storrs having won six conference tournaments out of the 10 she has attended both as a coach and student-athlete.

Novatin joined the coaching staff at Princeton University in June of 2015. She helped create and implement offensive strategies that increased overall batting averages and slugging percentages, while decreasing the number of strikeouts. These tactics aided in back-to-back Ivy League Championships for the Tigers.

Prior to her time with Princeton, Novatin served in the same capacity at the University at Albany. While there, she served as the primary hitting coach in addition to working with the infield and outfield. She provided coaching that increased offensive production that led the conference in several categories in addition being crowned America East Champions in 2014.

Novatin’s coaching experience also includes time at Rider University and Georgian Court College.

A graduate of Hofstra University in 2010, she earned her bachelor of science in exercise science with a minor in physical education. Novatin was a member of a Hofstra softball team that won four Colonial Athletic Association conference titles, several conference championships, made three NCAA Regional appearances, two NCAA Regional Finals appearances, and finished statistically as one of the top-5 defensive teams in the country.

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Jessica Jacobson

Jessica Jacobson joined the softball coaching staff in July 2019.

Jacobson comes to UConn with more than 11 years of experience as a softball coach, with her most recent tenure at Elon University. She rejoined the Phoenix staff in 2011 as associate head coach, pitching coach. Her recruiting and coaching aided in Elon’s first two female Division I All-Americans, as well as 14 wins over Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.

She was a part of the program’s first pair of Southeastern Conference victories over Georgia in 2012 and 2019. In Elon’s Division I era, Jacobson has coached several student-athletes to breaking program records in both individual season and career categories. During her time, she also coached Elon’s only pair of pitchers to throw perfect games in program history.

Jacobson has served as an assistant coach at Saint Peter’s College, University of New Haven, and Drew University.

A graduate of The College of New Jersey in 2007, she earned a dual bachelor of science in elementary education & psychology. As a student-athlete, she received the HONDA Inspiration Award in 2007, an award given to one female NCAA yearly that has overcome adversity to excel in her sport by showing strength of character and sets an outstanding example for young women. She was named Second Team All-NJAC, team captain twice, and Second Team All-East by Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association at the designated player position.

Jacobson obtained her master’s degree in management of sports industries from the University of New Haven.

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Pattie Ruth Taylor

Pattie Ruth Taylor joined the staff in July 2019.

Taylor is a recent graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a masters of science in leisure and sport management. As a student-athlete, she was a part of the Blue Raiders’ pitching staff from 2015-2018. She was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Scholar Athlete, two-time C-USA Honor Roll member, and a member the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Most recently, Taylor served as a pitching instructor at SIX1FIVE where she provided private pitching instruction to girls in a wide age range. She aided in the expanding the knowledge of softball through overall experience and drills.

Her other experiences include event planning with the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in Nashville, international business internship with student-athletes abroad in Costa Rica, and summer camp division leadership with the Atlanta Braves as well as the Washington Nationals. Through these experiences Taylor worked with local schools, businesses, community organizations, and Escuelas Deportivas Special Olympics.