Kate Bowen Named SCSU Softball Interim Head Coach
September 12, 2024
Southern Connecticut State University Director of Athletics & Recreation Terrance Jones has announced the hiring of Kate Bowen as the Owls’ Softball Interim Head Coach. Bowen replaces Jillian Rispoli who coached the Owls since 2014 and resigned to pursue other professional opportunities.
“Kate Bowen is a highly respected coach with experience in athletic administration,” Jones said. “We’re ecstatic to bring someone of Kate’s caliber to Southern to guide our softball student-athletes. She replaces current head coach Jill Rispoli, who has done an admirable job as the Owls’ head coach for the last 10 years and we wish her the best of luck.”
Bowen comes to Southern Connecticut from Springfield College where she served as the head coach since 2017 after serving as a graduate assistant from 2014 through 2016. In eight seasons, Bowen compiled an overall record of 180-88-1 for a .697 winning percentage. In 2017, her first season as Springfield’s interim head coach, Bowen was named the ECAC Division III New England and NEWMAC Softball Coach of the Year. This past season, she guided Springfield to the NEWMAC Regular-Season Championship and earned Coach of the Year honors.
“I would like to thank Terrance Jones and Matt Letkowski for this incredible opportunity to lead the softball program,” Bowen said. “I am excited to join the Southern Connecticut State University family and to come back home to Connecticut. I look forward to working with this group of student-athletes to continue and build upon the program’s tradition of excellence. I am honored to be an Owl and cannot wait to get started.”
In eight seasons at Springfield, Bowen coached three All-Americans, 12 All-Region selections, three Players ofthe Year, one Pitcher of the Year and a Rookie of the Year. Additionally, her teams have featured 23 All-NEWMAC First and Second team selections as well as 86 NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honorees.
Bowen was a four-year starter at NCAA Division I Manhattan College where she was a three-time All-MAAC selection and a NFCA First Team All-Northeast Region selection and a two-time Manhattan College Female Student-Athlete of the Year. She graduated as the program record holder in at-bats and ranked in the top three in hits, doubles, runs scored and games played while hitting .340 for her career.
Following her collegiate playing career, she went on to play professionally for the Stratford Brakettes from 2011 through 2013 as a pitcher and outfielder. She helped the Brakettes to three-straight Major Softball National Championships as well as the USSSA Women’s Fastpitch World Series Championship in 2013. In 2012 she won the Major Softball National Championship Diane Schumacher Batting Title.
Bowen graduated from Manhattan College in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in adapted physical education. She earned a master’s degree in physical education with a concentration in athletic administration from Springfield in 2017 and is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Springfield.