Hempstead, N.Y. – Former Hofstra softball standout Sara Michalowski has joined the Pride staff as an assistant coach, Hofstra Softball Head Coach Larissa Anderson announced Friday.

"I am beyond thrilled to welcome back Sara to our program," said Anderson. "Her experience as a standout player here at Hofstra—CAA Player of the Year, winning two conference championships and competing in two NCAA Regional finals—complements her knowledge of the game. Sara has the ability to teach many aspects of the game, but her most valuable asset is her ability to relate to today's Hofstra softball player.  Sara has an incredible amount of passion and loyalty to Hofstra softball and we are so fortunate to have her join our staff."

Michalowski, a 2011 graduate and four-year member of the Pride softball team, returns to Hofstra after spending at two years as the head softball coach at Joel Barlow High School in Connecticut, taking the team to the conference finals and winning a Connecticut State Tournament game for the first time in school history.

She has also served as the head coach and program coordinator of The Wicked Softball since 2011. With The Wicked Softball, she has been responsible for all instruction, in-game coaching, administrative duties and recruiting, and has helped 100 percent of her players receive scholarships to the institution of their choosing. In 2014, her Under-14 team finished third at USSSA National Championships.

The 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, Michalowski had a successful collegiate career at Hofstra. She was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Northeast Region Second Team in each of her final years, adding to her First-Team All-CAA and All-Rookie Team selections as a freshman. She finished her career in the program's all-time top 10 lists for career RBIs and home runs and holds top-10 single-season marks in the same categories. Michalowski helped the Pride to CAA Championships and appearances in the NCAA Regionals in 2008 and 2010.