Position: Head Coach
Last College: Rutgers '00
At St. John's: Sixth Season, Second as Head Coach
In her second season at the helm of the St. John’s softball program, head coach Debbie DeJong has simple, yet challenging goals laid out for her team: Post a winning season, qualify for the BIG EAST tournament and advance to postseason play. Last season, the Red Storm fell just two spots short of making the conference tournament and posted a 20-30-1 record overall. DeJong is confident that with a solid group of returners in place and a strong freshmen class, the team is headed in the right direction for the 2006 season.
DeJong picked up her first collegiate victory as head coach in the 2005 season opener against Appalachian State where St. John’s cruised to a 7-1 victory. Another notable win for DeJong came against San Diego State, a team that had been receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today Top-25 polls. The Red Storm defeated the Aztecs 7-2.
Entering her sixth season as a member of the St. John’s softball coaching staff, DeJong is no stranger to the program. She spent the previous four years as an assistant and graduate assistant coach under the direction of Melody Cope. She took over the head coaching reigns in October of 2004 and returns this season with a full year of preparation under her belt.
DeJong comfortably made the transition as she was already responsible for various aspects of the team. She has been key in recruiting and signing some of St. John’s top prospects over the last few years and continues to work with the infielders. The starting infield posted xx errors in xx chances last season and looks to be even tighter this season. DeJong has also been credited with making changes off the field as well. In addition to starting a monthly newsletter for Red Storm softball, she organized three alumni reunions, all of which have been well received and attended.
A four-year starter at Rutgers University, DeJong captained the team to a 24-16 overall record as a senior. As a junior, she led the Scarlet Knights with 34 RBI, the third-highest single season total in school history. She ranked eighth in the BIG EAST her senior season with 32 runs scored, along with placing fourth in the conference with 17 stolen bases.
Named to the 2000 BIG EAST Academic All-Star team as a senior, DeJong was also honored as the league’s Player of the Week on April 10 after leading the Knights to a 5-1 week and hitting a combined .350 with five RBI against St. Peter’s, Monmouth and Pittsburgh. She finished her career with a .315 batting average over 190 games with 106 RBI and 127 runs scored.
In May 2002, DeJong earned her master’s degree in elementary education from St. John’s. She graduated from Rutgers with a bachelor of arts in psychology and a minor in sociology in May of 2000. She currently resides in Long Island, N.Y.