NEW YORK - John Jay College Interim Director of Athletics Brandon Fieland has announced the hiring of Sarah Piening as the new head softball coach.
Piening comes to John Jay after four years as head softball coach at Immaculate Conception / St. Mary in North Jersey, where she compiled a 71-36 overall record and coached over 20 players to All-State and All-Conference recognition while being recognized as Coach of the Year in 2023.
"We are truly excited to introduce Sarah as our new head softball coach," Fieland said. "It was evident during the interview process that Coach Piening possessed a distinctive ability to merge championship-level determination with a genuine connection to student-athletes, always prioritizing their overall experience. Her success as both a head coach and Division I player, her ability to recruit, and her commitment to building young women into champions on and off the field made her the clear choice. I am excited for Sarah to lead our Bloodhound softball program and to see what it accomplishes under her leadership."
In addition to being a head coach at Immaculate Conception, Piening served as Club Softball Director and Coach for EC Bullets - National Softball Organization. There, she ran the training and conditioning programs better to prepare players for the highest level of competition, evaluated prospective players for academic standing, maximized individual and team athletic performance, and was responsible for all travel logistics.
"I am incredibly excited to join John Jay College as the new head softball coach," said Piening. "This is an amazing opportunity to build something special with such a dedicated group of student-athletes. For me, culture is everything, creating an environment built on trust, strong relationships, and shared core values. I believe that when athletes feel supported and connected, they can reach their highest potential both on and off the field. I am committed to fostering an environment where our players can grow not only as athletes, but also as individuals, while representing John Jay with pride and excellence. I want to thank Athletic Director Brandon Fieland, Interim Vice President Daniel Matos, and the search committee for giving me this opportunity and believing in my vision for the program. I look forward to getting started and laying the foundation for a program that thrives on hard work, accountability, and family. Go Bloodhounds!"
This will be Piening's first collegiate head coaching job, as she served as an assistant coach for Saint Elizabeth University in 2023, where she was the pitching coach for the Eagles. Among her day-to-day responsibilities, she developed and implemented training programs to enhance pitching performances while assisting in the recruitment and mentorship of student-athletes.
Piening has a strong passion for the sport, as she played a year at Division II Rollins College before transferring to the University of Delaware for the next four years. Among her accomplishments at the University of Delaware are tossing the 16th no-hitter in program and first since 2014, leading the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) with 32 starts and 40 appearances while ranking fourth in the league with 98 strikeouts.
She was an accomplished high school pitcher at Immaculate Conception, where she was the first pitcher in New Jersey history to win four state championships and was recognized as an All-NJ State, Non-Public, All-North Jersey, and All-Bergen County honoree. Additionally, she was twice named North Jersey Interscholastic League Player of the Year.
Piening graduated from the University of Delaware in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology. Following graduation, she worked as a Special Operations Investigator at Danbee Investigations.
She is also the co-owner of an indoor softball facility, Next Gen Softball Academy, where she oversees all aspects of business operations and has partnered with local schools, club teams, and coaches in developing innovative training plans.
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