Bucknell University Athletics
Samantha Kszepka Joins Bucknell Softball Coaching Staff
7/21/2008 8:00:00 AM | Softball
July 21, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Samantha Kszepka, a former All-American player at William Paterson University, was named an assistant softball coach at Bucknell, Bison head coach Heather Rakosik announced Monday. Kszepka will work closely with the Bucknell pitchers and will be an integral part of the Bison recruiting effort.
“We are very fortunate to have Samantha join our staff,” commented Rakosik, the 2008 Patriot League Coach of the Year. “She has coached at the Division I level and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, especially our pitching staff. Samantha is an outstanding teacher of the game and has an unbelievable passion for recruiting. She will enhance every single facet of our program.”
Kszepka, a highly decorated player during her college career, was a Third Team All-America selection as a utility player in 2002. She was also the New Jersey Athletic Conference and ECAC Player of the Year the same season when she hit a team-best .463 with three home runs and 30 runs batted in and posted a 13-4 record with a miniscule 0.86 ERA. After a 9-1 mark in the circle as a senior in 2003, Kszepka finished her career 36-10 with a 1.50 ERA.
A 2004 graduate of William Paterson with a bachelor's degree in exercise and movement science, Kszepka broke into coaching at the high school level in 2006 when she was an assistant softball coach at Willingboro High School in New Jersey. The New Egypt, N.J., native also taught health and physical education at Willingboro for two years.
Kszepka made the jump to the college level in 2007 when she joined the softball staff at nearby Susquehanna University and helped lead the squad to a solid 16-12 mark. While with the Crusaders she directed workouts for the pitchers, assisted with recruiting and implemented the winter workout and conditioning program.
Last year Kszepka moved to Division I Norfolk State as an assistant. There, she was the recruiting coordinator and was in charge of workouts for pitchers, catchers and the outfield for a team that posted 23 victories.
Additionally, Kszepka has been an instructor at Diamond Player Development in Hamilton, N.J., and was the pitching coach for the New Jersey Nightmare 18-and-under summer team in 2005.
Kszepka will join a Bison team that posted a 23-29 record in 2008, the fourth-most victories in program history. Bucknell tied for second place in the Patriot League standings with a 13-7 conference mark and qualified for the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2005.
