Susan Cassidy-Lyke is in her first year as the head softball coach at Hofstra University. She was named to her position in July of 2025.
Cassidy-Lyke is a highly-accomplished coach, seasoned athletics administrator, and former standout student-athlete.
A proven leader with more than two decades of championship-caliber coaching experience, Cassidy-Lyke joins Hofstra after an extraordinary 20-year tenure as the head softball coach and director of athletics at Molloy University, where she built a nationally-respected program and guided her student-athletes to excellence on and off the field.
Cassidy-Lyke comes to Hofstra after serving as the head softball coach and director of athletics at Molloy since 2006.
“Susan Cassidy-Lyke is an exceptional leader whose remarkable track record of success speaks for itself,” said Cole Jr. “She brings to Hofstra a championship mindset, a deep commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes, and a breadth of experience that is truly unique - ranging from her time as a standout student-athlete to a highly-respected coach and accomplished athletics administrator. Her vision, integrity, and diverse skill-set make her the ideal person to lead our softball program into its next chapter, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Pride.”
"I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Hofstra family as the head coach of such a storied and respected softball program,” said Cassidy-Lyke. “The Hofstra softball program has a rich tradition of excellence, and I’m humbled to now be a part of that legacy. I look forward to building on that foundation by helping our student-athletes grow not only as competitors, but as confident, driven, and compassionate young women. My goal is to ensure that their time at Hofstra is filled with meaningful experiences - on the field, in the classroom, and in the community - that prepare them for success in every aspect of their lives."
During her tenure at Molloy, Cassidy-Lyke posted a record of 570-448-1 and her .560 winning percentage is the highest of any Molloy softball coach. She led the Lions to three Division II National Championship Tournament appearances, capturing the East Regional crown in 2010, 2013, and 2017. Under her tutelage, Molloy has appeared in 14 East Coast Conference Tournaments (winning four titles) and eight NCAA Regional Tournaments.
Cassidy-Lyke earned four consecutive ECC Coach of the Year Awards between 2009 to 2012 and her 2013 squad set a program-record with 53 victories and capped off a run of three consecutive ECC championships.
In 2010, Molloy put together a then program-best record of 43-21, achieved a No. 10 national ranking, and won its first-ever NCAA Division II East Region title to make a trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series for the first time in program history.
Student-athletes have received tremendous accolades under Cassidy-Lyke’s guidance. She has coached one NFCA All-American, 28 NFCA All-East Region honorees, 87 All-ECC selections, 28 Daktronics/CCA All-East Region performers, nine Daktronics/CCA All-Americans, one Daktronics/CCA East Region Pitcher of the Year, three ECC Pitchers of the Year, four ECC and one ECAC Rookie of the Year, and two ECC Players of the Year. The honors carry over to the academic side as Cassidy-Lyke's student-athletes have earned numerous academic accolades, including ECC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, and All-America Scholar-Athlete recognition.
Cassidy-Lyke also served as the director of athletics at Molloy and has overseen unprecedented athletic and academic success. Since her appointment, Molloy athletics programs have appeared in 31 NCAA Tournaments, won 25 conference championships, and four NCAA Regionals while also being recognized for its academics and community service endeavors. Molloy also added nine programs - men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, women's bowling, men's and women's rugby, field hockey, and sprint football - during her tenure.
A member of the Division II Athletic Director’s Association, Cassidy-Lyke has also served on the board of directors as the ECC representative. She is also a former president, vice president and secretary of the ECC’s Athletic Director Council.
A 1986 summa cum laude graduate of Molloy with a degree in business management, Cassidy-Lyke then earned her master’s degree in criminal justice from John Jay College in 1990. She then went to the New York City Police Academy and reached the rank of captain in 2001. A two-sport athlete (softball and basketball) at Molloy, Cassidy-Lyke was inducted into the Lions' Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. She was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honoree and was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2002.
Before returning to her alma mater in 2006, Cassidy-Lyke served as a coach for three different teams over a 15-year period at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville. Her greatest success came on the softball field, as she posted a stellar 287-85 record with the Titans. Her teams captured nine CHSAA titles and four New York State Championships. Cassidy-Lyke would earn four Nassau/Suffolk CHSAA Coach of the Year honors and was the Nassau County Female Coach of the Year in 1995, and Newsday’s Nassau County Coach of the Year in 2003. She was an immediate inductee into the Holy Trinity Hall of Fame following her departure. In addition to her scholastic coaching and her tenure at Molly, Cassidy-Lyke also served nine years as the head volleyball coach at C.W. Post (now LIU) and earned 141 victories with the Pioneers.
A native of Hicksville, New York, Cassidy-Lyke and her husband, John, have one son, Jack, and a dog, Murphy.
Susan Cassidy-Lyke Softball Career Coaching Record
| Year |
School |
Overall Record (ECC) |
Postseason Finish |
| 2006 |
Molloy |
12-32 (N/A) |
N/A |
| 2007 |
Molloy |
21-23 (9-11) |
N/A |
| 2008 |
Molloy |
22-24 (8-12) |
N/A |
| 2009 |
Molloy |
21-26 (10-8) |
ECC Semifinal |
| 2010 |
Molloy |
43-21 (19-9) |
ECC Finalist; NCAA East Regional Champion; National Tournament Quarterfinalist |
| 2011 |
Molloy |
42-14 (22-6) |
ECC Champion; NCAA East Region Quarterfinalist |
| 2012 |
Molloy |
47-13 (25-3) |
ECC Champion; NCAA East Regional Finalist |
| 2013 |
Molloy |
53-14 (24-4) |
ECC Champion; NCAA East Regional Champion; National Tournament Quarterfinalist |
| 2014 |
Molloy |
30-22-1 (20-7-1) |
ECC Finalist |
| 2015 |
Molloy |
24-27 (18-10) |
ECC Semifinalist |
| 2016 |
Molloy |
35-24 (19-9) |
ECC Champion; NCAA East Regional Quarterfinalist |
| 2017 |
Molloy |
37-18 (18-6) |
ECC Quarterfinalist; NCAA East Regional Champion; National Tournament Quarterfinalist |
| 2018 |
Molloy |
30-25 (13-11) |
ECC Finalist |
| 2019 |
Molloy |
17-34 (7-15) |
N/A |
| 2020 |
Molloy |
1-6 (N/A) |
Season Canceled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic |
| 2021 |
Molloy |
29-16 (16-6) |
ECC Semifinalist; NCAA East Regional Quarterfinalist |
| 2022 |
Molloy |
24-33 (10-14) |
ECC Finalist |
| 2023 |
Molloy |
31-21 (15-5) |
ECC Finalist |
| 2024 |
Molloy |
32-24 (16-4) |
ECC Finalist; NCAA East Regional Semifinalist |
| 2025 |
Molloy |
19-31 (11-9) |
ECC Quarterfinalist |
| Career |
20 seasons |
570-448-1 (280-149-1) |
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