New York, N.Y.— John Jay College of Criminal Justice Department of Athletics has announced that Marlenne Nunez has been named head softball coach.

Nunez will replace Laura Drazdowski who stepped down after serving as head coach the past three seasons.

Nunez is no stranger to the Bloodhounds softball program. She was a four year player for John Jay (2006-09) and was an assistant under Drazdowski last season.

“I’m very excited about coaching the team, it is going to be a new challenge and I am looking forward to it,” said Nunez. “Having played on the team for four years and coaching it for one, I know what it takes to bring the team to the next level. The program has improved so much through the years and I hope to continue the improvement of the program.”

Nunez played a critical role in the resurgence of the John Jay softball program. The team won just three games during her freshman year, and by her senior year, the Bloodhounds fought for the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) title deep into the season. Last season, John Jay advanced past the first round of the conference playoffs for the first time since CUNYAC went to a double elimination format.

As a player, Nunez recorded 74 career hits, including 12 doubles, a triple and a homerun. She recorded 40 runs batted in and tallied 95 total bases. During her junior year she was named a CUNYAC second team All-Star after batting a career-high .290 with seven doubles and 14 runs batted in.

“We are very happy to have Marlenne aboard as coach. Having been a four year player and an assistant coach, she knows what needs to be done to help John Jay softball continue moving to the next level,” said Director of Athletics Dan Palumbo. “And I want to thank Laura for the tremendous job she did for three seasons, helping establish a stable program.”

The 2011 John Jay softball season is tentatively scheduled to begin on Fri. Mar. 4 at the Virginia Beach Blast Games in Virginia Beach, Va.

“It was a privledge to coach at John Jay,” said Drazdowski, who is John Jay’s Assistant Director of Athletics for Budget & Finance, Co-Compliance Officer and SWA. “I am confident the team will continue on the path of excellence we have worked so hard to achieve over the past three years.”