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Lynn University Director of Athletics Kristen Migliano announced the hiring of Amy Bellisari as the new softball coach on Tuesday. Bellisari becomes the sixth coach in school history, and looks to rebuild the program.
“We are excited to announce Coach Bellisari is joining the Lynn team,” Migliano said. “Amy's leadership, coaching talent and competitive spirit are welcomed additions to the Lynn softball program.”
Bellisari arrives at Lynn after serving as the assistant softball coach at NCAA Division I Bethune-Cookman University. Since 2007, she helped lead the Wildcats to a runner-up finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 2009 then back-to-back conference championships in 2010 and 2011.
"I would like to thank Kristen Migliano and the administration at Lynn University for honoring me with this opportunity to become the new head softball coach for the Fighting Knights," Bellisari said. "Having grown up in Boca Raton, I know the rich traditions that Lynn University offers their student athletes and I am excited about continuing the success of my peers before me. I'm excited about getting to know the players on the team and getting started with the fall season."
Prior to Bethune-Cookman, Bellisari earned her Master of Coaching Education from Ohio University as the softball program’s graduate assistant from 2005-2006. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from Florida Atlantic. Before Ohio University, Bellisari coached the Boca Raton High School varsity softball team.
Bellisari played softball at local Florida Atlantic University from 2000-2004. During that time, her Owls won four Atlantic Sun Conference titles. In her senior season FAU compiled a 56-18 record and won two games in the Lincoln (Neb.) regional.
Bellisari inherits a program with a combined 98-164 record over the past five years. Fighting Knights softball represents Lynn’s youngest program as Bellisari will lead the Blue & White into their 14th season in 2012. In 2001, the team won a school-best 36 games and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament, and in 2003 the Knights took a school-high 19 Sunshine State Conference wins.