Western New England University

Head Coach Amanda Novak claimed her first CCC Championship in her sixth season at the helm of the Golden Bears softball program in 2024. Novak will begin her seventh season as the leader of the program in 2025. 

Novak's Golden Bears won 27 games on the season, taking the CCC Championship for the first time since 2018. Despite a 0-5 start to the season in which the Golden Bears softball program lost a game by no more than three runs, Novak would guide WNE to six straight wins to close out their Florida trip. WNE would grab multiple win streaks throughout their 2024 season, including two separate six-game win streaks. WNE would ride into the CCC tournament as the second seed and would take the tournament to the distance, defeating Roger Williams University 9-3 in the final game of the championship series to collect their first CCC title in six seasons. Following the conclusion of the NCAA Championships, five total Golden Bears would record All-CCC honors, while Taylor Keegan picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors. Two Golden Bears, Kailey Carrano and Madison Mason, picked up NFCA All-Region honors under the guidance of Novak. Multiple Golden Bears have broken Western New England softball records under the watch of Novak, including career home runs and RBIs by Kailey Carrano. 

Novak guided her team to the CCC Championship series and won 14 games in CCC play during the regular season in 2023. Senior Dina DiBlasio was named CCC Player of the Year as well as named to the NFCA All-Region First Team and Third Team All-American, the first in WNE's softball program since 2006. Novak led the Golden Bears to seven straight conference wins to close the season while winning their first three games in the CCC Tournament. Novak led Western New England to her first CCC Championship series in 2022, while also guiding five of her Golden Bears to the All-CCC Teams. 

Novak completed her third season as head coach of the Western New England University softball program in 2021.

In 2020, the Golden Bears went 3-3 before the remainder of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Western New England picked up wins over Husson, Ursinus, and Mount Mary. Eight student-athletes received Academic All-Conference recognition for having a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3.

Novak led the Golden Bears to a 20-win campaign, including a 9-7 record in CCC play, in her first season as head coach in 2019. Three Golden Bears earned All-CCC accolades, including freshman Jamie Cookingham, who was named the CCC Rookie of the Year. Seven of Novak's student-athletes received Academic All-CCC recognition. 

Novak was named head coach of the Western New England softball program in July 2018 after serving as an assistant coach on Lori Mayhew-Wood's staff for seven seasons. As an assistant, Novak played a key role in recruiting and evaluation of potential student-athletes, game and practice planning, and skill development. Novak was also responsible for working with hitters and the defensive game plan for infielders. She helped lead the Golden Bears to CCC Championships in 2015 and 2018. 

A native of Cos Cob, Conn., Novak graduated from Springfield College in May 2011 with a bachelor's degree in movement and sports studies. She received her master's degree in physical education with a concentration in athletic administration from Springfield in 2013. 

Novak was a four-year starter at first base and as the designated player, helping the Pride reach the championship game of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament her junior and senior seasons.

She made the all-tournament team at the 2009 NCAA Division III New England Regional after belting a clutch two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to give Springfield a 4-3 victory over Endicott.

Novak hit .299 with seven homers and 28 runs batted in during her final season in helping the Pride to a 26-15 record. She made the All-NEWMAC Second Team and was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Academic Team.

While at Springfield, she also was a member of the Pride Athletic Advisory Committee (PAAC) and served as a New Student Orientation leader for three years.