Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University Head Softball Coach Adrienne Clark announced today the addition of Nikki Amodeo as an assistant coach with the Pride.

"I am thrilled to welcome Nikki Amodeo to our coaching staff," mentioned Clark. "Along with her impressive experience as a player and coach, Nikki brings exceptional communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a contagious enthusiasm. She is a fantastic person to work with, and I am excited to start this new chapter of Hofstra Softball with her on the team."

"I want to thank Rick Cole Jr., Adrienne Clark, and the entire Hofstra Athletics department for welcoming me with open arms," said Amodeo. "The Hofstra Softball family is filled with a rich tradition of excellence, and I am honored to receive the opportunity to help build upon the foundation set by the amazing coaches and student-athletes who came before me. I look forward to the journey ahead and can't wait to hit the ground running."

Amodeo brings extensive coaching experience to the Pride, including the last three seasons at the NCAA Division I level.

Amodeo arrives in Hempstead after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut in 2024. She helped mentor several award-winning student-athletes, including the Big East Conference Player of the Year and a pair of All-Big East Conference First Team honorees. It was Amodeo's second stint at Connecticut and she assisted the program in all facets, including working with the catching and outfield units. 

Amodeo spent a year at Fordham University prior to last season and worked with the Rams outfield, while also assisting in all aspects of the team.

Amodeo's first stop at the NCAA Division I level was in 2022 when she served as a volunteer assistant at Connecticut and was part of a staff that guided the Huskies to the Big East Conference regular season title. 

Amodeo's first collegiate coaching experience came at Wesleyan University, where she was an assistant coach for two years from 2019 to 2021. 

Amodeo has also worked at a variety of camps and clinics and provided private lessons.

Amodeo graduated from Adelphi University in 2019 with a degree in sports management. She earned her master's degree in social science from Wesleyan in 2021. A decorated student-athlete during her undergraduate career at Adelphi, she was a three-time NE10 All-Conference honoree and a member of four teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament, including the 2016 squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II Women's College World Series. 

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT NIKKI AMODEO

"I am confident Nikki will do great things at Hofstra and bring hard work and energy to their staff. Her commitment and ability to impact student-athletes will make a lasting impression on the current and future Hofstra Pride teams." - Laura Valentino, University of Connecticut Head Softball Coach and 2011 Hofstra graduate

"I am so excited for Nikko Amodeo and Hofstra Softball. What an outstanding hire by Adrienne Clark. Nikki's boundless energy and enthusiasm for the coaching profession is everything that exemplifies Hofstra Softball. Nikki will bring a passion for the game of softball that her student-athletes will find contagious. Her wealth of knowledge and experience combined with her keen ability to teach it will provide immediate dividends to the softball student-athletes she serves. Hofstra Softball hired 'A really good one.'" - Bill Edwards, Hofstra University Head Softball Coach (1990-2014)

"Hofstra Softball has added a passionate, loyal, and blue-collar coach in Coach Amodeo. She is growing her roots here in the northeast and is a household name in the softball world. She is a coach who has a magnetic personality and connects with anyone she crosses paths with. Her addition will help continue to bring Coach Clark's vision for Hofstra Softball to fruition."