Denise Marchese begins her first year as assistant head coach for the University of Hartford softball team. In addition to serving as the team’s hitting coach, Marchese’s responsibilities with the Hawks will also include working with the infield corners and overseeing alumni relations, camps, and clinics.
Marchese joins the Hawks following a two-year stint at the University of Rhode Island, where she served as an assistant coach and hitting coach. During her time with the Rams, she mentored a pair of All-Atlantic 10 Conference players and one College Sports Madness.com Atlantic 10 Conference selection player. Marchese’s Division I experience goes beyond Rhode Island as she previously spent six years as an assistant coach at Central Connecticut State University (2004-2009), working primarily with the hitters, infielders, and catchers while serving as the Blue Devils’ softball strength and conditioning coach.
Prior to landing at Rhode Island, Marchese served as head coach at SUNY New Paltz (2010-2012), SUNY Oneonta (2002-2004), and St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford (1998-2001), where she compiled an overall record of 198-154-1 at the Division III level. During her time at Oneonta, she posted an overall 76-46-1 record with her best season coming in 2004 when she guided the Red Dragons to a 28-16 record to go along with a SUNYAC title, and an appearance in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III tournament.
During her 18-year collegiate coaching career, Marchese has mentored 11 Division I All-Conference players and 15 Division III All-Conference players as well as five All-Region, four ECAC All-Stars, 13 NFCA Scholar Athletes and a pair of NYSCAA All-State players.
Marchese enjoyed a stellar softball career as a four-year starter at first base at Eastern Connecticut State University (1992-1995). Registering a .983 career fielding percentage for the Warriors, she won three-straight Gold Glove Awards in 1993, 1994 and 1995. In addition, she broke the New England Division III record for defensive career putouts (936).
Marchese graduated from Eastern Connecticut in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and went on to receive her master’s degree in physical education and exercise science from Central Connecticut in 2004. She currently resides in Manchester, Conn.
