HEAD COACH VICKIE SAX

Now in her eighth-year as head coach of Colgate softball, Vickie Sax has molded the Raiders into one of the top programs in the Patriot League.  This hard-working mentor has qualified her squad for the Patriot League Tournament every season and reached the championship game three times, winning the title in 1999 and 2003, and advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

            Adding to her list of accomplishments is seven consecutive seasons with 20 wins or more, including a school-record 34 wins during the 2004 season.  She has twice hit the 30-win plateau, the only softball coach in school history to reach that mark.

            Last season, Sax saw her squad reach the Patriot League Tournament for the seventh straight season.  En route she had six players named first team all-Patriot League with outfielder Dorothy Donaldson earning Player of the Year honors and Elena Isaac receiving Pitcher of the Year recognition.

            In 2003, Sax was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year after guiding the Raiders to their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

            She was named the winner of the University’s Howard Hartman Award as Coach of the Year in 2001 and New York State Collegiate Softball Officials Association Coach of the Year in 1999.

            Her outstanding coaching ability is reflected in the fact that 10 of her players have earned all-Mid Atlantic Region All-America honors and 20 have earned all-Patriot League honors in seven seasons including Pitcher of the Year three times, Player of the Year three times, and Rookie of the Year twice.

            Sax came to Colgate from Mansfield University where she was the head field hockey coach and assistant softball coach, specializing in team hitting and serving as the first base coach.  She began her coaching career as the varsity girls softball and field hockey coach as well as the junior varsity basketball coach for the Vestal Central School District in 1986.

            In 1995, Sax guided her team to the New York State Class A Final and was named the New York State Softball Coach of the Year.  Vestal was the Southern Tier Athletic Conference's Division I runner-up in 1988 and 1989 and were semifinalists in 1990.  Under her guidance, numerous athletes were selected to all-state teams and went on to compete at Division I, II and III collegiate levels, including former Raider Amanda Paolucci.

            Sax twice coached the Central Region softball team in Empire State Games taking a silver medal in 1998 and a bronze in 1999.

            Sax received her BA in Physical Education in 1985 at the University of Iowa where she played field hockey and softball for the Hawkeyes.  She was an Amateur Softball Association All-America in 1986, 1995 and 1998 while playing for the Stan Mill Mitts.  She studied at the State University of Cortland and received her Masters in Physical Education and Sports Psychology in 1989.