From one winning Long Island program to another:
Carla Campagna has been hired as the next head coach of the Adelphi University softball team, effective Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. She departed the institution for Iona College, effective at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
In her inaugural campaign, Campagna guided the Panthers to a 32-20 record and an NE10 Southwest Division regular-season title. Adelphi reached the finals of the NE10 Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for an eighth-consecutive year that season.
In 2021, Campagna coached the NE10 Southwest Division Pitcher and Defensive Player of the Year in Ally Muller and Faith Camilleri, respectively. Muller went on to be named an NFCA All-America and All-Region player.
In her fourth season at Adelphi in 2022, Campagna led the Panthers to a historic season in the program’s Division II history. Finishing with a program-best 47-15 overall record, the Panthers won the NE10 Championship and an NCAA Division II East Region title, which resulted in the program's third NCAA Division II National Championship appearance. Campagna was named NE10 Coach of the Year and her staff won NFCA Division II Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
Additionally, in 2022, she had two All-Americans (Claire Fon, Lindsey Hibbs), the NE10 and D2CCA East Region Pitcher of the Year (Claire Fon) and NE10 Defensive Player of the Year (Angela Lignelli). Campagna also coached six All-Conference players and four All-Region players during the same season, and captured her 100th win at the helm of the program.
In the 2023 campaign, Campagna bested the program's record from 2022 going 47-8 including a record 25-game win streak. The season was the Panthers' fifth going over the 40-win mark. Their record was good enough for a .855 winning percentage, a new program-record. The 'Cats won their second-consecutive NE10 Championship and hosted their second-consecutive NCAA Division II East Super Regional.
Also in 2023, she coached two Academic All-Americans and NFCA First Team All-Region players (Lindsey Hibbs, Courtney Wengryn). She additionally had an NFCA and D2CCA All-American, as well as the D2CCA East Region and National Pitcher of the Year (Lindsey Hibbs) under her wing. Campagna also transformed freshman Brianna Fischer from a newcomer not getting any playing time, into an eventual NE10 Rookie of the Year while taking over at first base for the injured Faith Camilleri.
In her sixth season at the helm of the Panthers in 2024, Campagna won her fifth consecutive regular season championship, hosting the NE10 Championship weekend for the third straight year. In addition, she led Adelphi to their third consecutive East Super Regional appearance, winning the East 2 Regional over cross-town rival Molloy University.
Outside of the team's accomplishments in 2024, Campagna won her second NE10 Coach of the Year honor. Furthermore, she coached two NFCA All-Region players in Lindsey Hibbs and Angela Lignelli, the latter of which also took home the NE10 Defensive Player of the Year award for the second time in her career. Nine of her players earned a mention on either an All-Conference, All-Defensive, or All-Rookie Team.
Campagna came to Adelphi after spending the last six years serving under 20-year head coach Jamie Apicella at LIU Post, where she was responsible for catchers and assisting with the infield, hitting, and recruiting.
In her tenure with the Green and Gold, she helped the Pioneers capture a pair of East Coast Conference titles in 2014 and 2018, earn five berths to the NCAA Division II Tournament, and win a regional title in 2014, all while mentoring All-Conference, All-Region and All-America student-athletes.
"Adelphi has a history and tradition of excellence and I am honored and excited to continue to build on the success of the softball program and athletics department," Campagna said. "I would like to thank Mr. McCabe, Ms. Whalen and the members of the search committee for providing me with the chance to pursue this opportunity. Adelphi is an elite Division II institution, and as a Long Island native, I am proud to become part of the family.
"As I begin my time here, I am eager to work with the softball team and I look forward to developing the academic success and community involvement that has already been created in the athletic department."
Campagna becomes the ninth head coach in team history.
Well-versed in Division II softball in the East Region, Campagna enjoyed a stellar playing career at ECC member Molloy College. Over four years, she totaled 44 home runs, 207 RBIs and a .370 batting average. She was a three-time All-ECC First Team selection from 2010-12 and was dubbed both the ECC and Daktronics East Region Player of the Year in 2011. In 2012, she was named to the NFCA All-East Region First Team and the Daktronics All-America Third Team.
"Through my experiences at LIU Post, I have realized my passion for working with students and athletes on and off the field. I have received nothing but support during my transition, and I cannot wait to find my place in the community at Adelphi," Campagna added.
In addition to coaching, Campagna served as the lead instructor for the New York Softball Academy. She also has a coaching stint with the Long Island Hellcats 16-U Team and formerly instructed the Long Island Ducks 18-U Team.
Outside of coaching, Campagna also worked as LIU Promise Success Coach through the LIU Post Office of Campus Life, guiding undergraduates through academic and career counseling, campus activities and financial aid over their four years as Pioneers. She earned her master's degree in literacy from LIU Post, and currently resides in Floral Park.
Campagna's Year-by-Year Coaching Record
6 Seasons, 2 NE10 Championships, 5 NE10 Regular Season Championships, 5 NE10 Final Appearances, 1 NCAA Division II East Region Championship, 5 NCAA Tournament Appearances
| Year |
-Overall- |
-Conference- |
-Notes- |
| W-L |
Pct. |
W-L |
| 2019 |
32-20 |
.615 |
16-2 NE10 |
NE10 Finalist, NCAA East Regional Appearance |
| 2020 |
3-7 |
.300 |
0-0 NE10 |
Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 |
30-10 |
.750 |
20-4 NE10 |
NE10 Finalist, NCAA East Regional Appearance |
| 2022 |
47-15 |
.758 |
22-4 NE10 |
NE10 Champions, NCAA Division II East Region Champions, NCAA Division II National Championship Appearance |
| 2023 |
47-8 |
.855 |
21-3 NE10 |
NE10 Champions, NCAA East Region Finalist |
| 2024 |
34-21 |
.618 |
17-5 NE10 |
NE10 Finalist, NCAA East Region Finalist |
| 6 Seasons |
194-81 |
.705 |
96-18 |
