CAMPIONE NAMED NEW HEAD SOFTBALL COACH AT SALEM STATE

SALEM, MASS. -- Salem State Director of Athletics Tracey Hathaway is pleased to announce that Alex Campione has accepted the position as the new head softball coach at Salem State University. Campione will replace Ariel LaRosa, who was hired in 2017. "Being a former NCAA Division I student-athlete with an impressive resume, Alexandra will be an asset to our softball program. She is highly respected coach with extensive roots in New England. We are excited to have her become an integral part of our program and family here at Salem State University."

Campione spent the past three years as the head coach at Wentworth Institute. Last season, the Leopards posted 11 wins, the most wins by the team in eight years. Under her direction, Wentworth doubled its offensive performance from the previous season in runs, hits, stolen bases, and runs batted in. In addition, Wentworth placed several members on the Academic All-Conference team, as the team GPA remained above a 3.0 during her tenure.

"I want to thank Director of Athletics Tracey Hathaway and the entire search committee at Salem State University for giving me this opportunity. The value that Salem State places on the student- athlete experience perfectly aligns with my coaching philosophy. I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead this program and to be a part of Salem State Athletics."

Previously, Campione was an assistant coach at Franklin Pierce University. With the Ravens she served in several capacities, while specifically working with the pitchers and catchers. During her first season (2014) Franklin Pierce picked up 10 victories in the competitive Northeast-10 Conference, which tied a program record for most conference wins in a single season. Additionally, the team's earned run average improved from the 2013 season.

Campione received her Master's Degree in counseling, with a concentration in sport psychology from Boston University in 2015 and is employed as a child and family therapist. She is currently receiving her license as a Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). While at Wentworth she was the department liaison for Project 40, which was a campus wide initiative developed to help students' take control of their happiness by building resiliency skills.  

A 2013 graduate of Holy Cross with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Campione played softball during her freshman season, helping the Crusaders post a 14-win season. Campione started 23 of the 28 games in which she appeared and was tied for fourth on the team with 10 walks.

She spent her final three seasons as a member of the Crusaders' ice hockey team, where she tallied 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 71 career games. A two-time ECAC East All-Academic selection, she was the 2013 recipient of the program's Seventh Player Award, which is given to the player who displays character exceeding program expectations on and off the ice.

A native of Townsend, Mass., Campione attended the Pomfret School where she earned 12 varsity letters in field hockey, ice hockey, and softball and was the 2009 recipient of the Pomfret Bowl, given to the best athlete in class by a vote of their peers.