Morissette Named Rivier Women's Softball Head Coach

Nashua, NH – Rivier College has announced Men's Basketball Head Coach Dave Morissette will also assume the responsibilities of the Women's Softball program. Morissette, who had previously coached the softball team for three seasons (2000 – 2002) once again takes the reins after former coach Kelly O'Connell stepped down following a GNAC Championship and a NCAA appearance in the 2010 season.

Morissette stepped down from his position with the softball team following a department realignment that made the women's basketball and softball coaching positions into one full time position. However, after O'Connell stepped down from that position, and Paul Williams was hired as a part time women's basketball coach, the door was reopened for Coach Morissette to step back in. "I look forward in taking over a program that has such fine student-athletes. My goal is to get these young ladies to reach their potential with hard work and loyalty to Rivier College and the Softball Program." Says Morissette.

Morissette stepped in as the interim coach during the teams brief fall season while Rivier Athletic Director Joanne Merrill was still looking for a candidate that would be hired full time to take over both the basketball and softball programs. When that didn't happen and Paul Williams, the former Rivier men's basketball assistant coach, was hired as a part time coach, Morissette weighed his options and made the decision to take over the softball program full time.

Prior to Morissette's previous stint as the Raiders softball coach, he was also the softball coach at Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH for two seasons. Coach Morissette will have his work cut out for him when he transitions from one season to the next after what is expecting to be a GNAC championship run in men's basketball directly into a championship defending run in softball. The first thing he will have to overcome is the loss of three time pitcher of the year Monica White, who graduated after last season. "The hard work during fall season was very promising. The 6 returners and 9 freshman on this year's squad showed lots of promise and we are on the right track to pick up where the team left off."