SPOFFORD RESIGNS FROM SOFTBALL HEAD COACHING POSITION

BOSTON, Mass. – After leading the Emmanuel College softball team to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship game earlier this spring, Head Coach Rob Spofford has announced his resignation from the position after serving at the coaching helm for the past four season. Spofford notified the Athletic Department staff and Softball team of his decision on Wednesday, May 18.

Spofford began his career with the Saints during the fall of 2012 when he accepted the Head Coaching position following a national search. Prior to joining the Emmanuel family, Coach Spofford served as an assistant coach at Emerson College for three seasons.

"Coach Spofford has been a committed leader for our softball program for the past four years, successfully developing and fostering a winning culture and making tremendous strides with our team," said Alexis Mastronardi, Director of Athletics & Recreation at Emmanuel. "His effort and dedication both on the field and behind the scenes have gone above and beyond and our Athletic Department is truly grateful for his loyalty." 

The Saints immediately felt Spofford's presence and impact during his first full season in 2013 when he helped the squad double their win total from the previous year from seven to 14 victories. The Saints annual win total would rise every single season under Spofford's guidance and the Cohasset native exits with 77 career coaching victories, the most by any head coach in program history.

In his second year at Emmanuel, Spofford helped the team qualify for the GNAC playoffs for the first time in 10 years and then in 2015, guided the Saints to a home playoff berth and a total of three postseason victories for a 20-win season.

Spofford and the Saints rewrote the record books in 2016, collecting 26 wins for a new single-season record and a trip to GNAC Championship.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed every moment of being a part of and helping to build a winning tradition at Emmanuel," said Spofford. "It didn't happen overnight and took an incredible commitment from all of my players and coaching staff as well as the complete support of the Athletic Department and College and for that I am grateful."

Over his tenure at Emmanuel, Spofford coached nine GNAC All-Conference players including the 2015 Pitcher of the Year and three National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) All Region players. Along with these playing accolades, Spofford took pride in his team's academic success in the classroom as shown by a total of 26 GNAC Academic All-Conference representatives over four years as well as NFCA All-Region recognition for the entire team in 2014.

Coach Spofford's decision to step down ultimately came from his commitment to his own family. While coaching at Emmanuel, Spofford has simultaneously been the parent of a collegiate softball player. It was a family decision to support his daughter in her final season of college softball and be there on the sidelines throughout her senior season at Colby College where she was recently named a captain for the 2017 campaign.

"I absolutely admire and respect Coach Spofford's decision to step down from the program in order to better focus on his own family," said Mastronardi.   "He is respected among our student-athletes, coaches and staff and he will ALWAYS be a part of our Saints Family!"

"It truly is a bittersweet moment for me," said Spofford. "I'm so excited to watch my daughter excel next year and can't wait to see the Emmanuel softball program continue its winning tradition and make another run at a GNAC title. Emmanuel College is a first class organization all the way from the Athletic Department down to each and every student-athlete. I'll miss it and Emmanuel but I'll tell you one thing, whoever takes over next has a lot to look forward to."

The Saints return 13 players next season from the 2016 roster and welcome what is believed to be the strongest recruiting class in the program's history for the 2017 campaign.