Lucas takes over as Head Softball Coach at Dominican, her duties starting in the fall.

Dominican University hires Lucas as Head Softball Coach
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- Dominican University has hired Cristina Lukas for the position of Head Softball Coach. In addition to her responsibilities as the Head Softball Coach, Lukas will also serve as the department's Business Manager and Senior Woman Administrator.

A 1995 graduate of SUNY New Paltz, Lucas boasts 25 years of softball experience as a player and as a coach at the collegiate, high school and club levels. As a Division III athlete at SUNY New Paltz, Lukas led all Division III pitchers during her senior season with 232 strikeouts, averaging 7.7 strikeouts per game with 19 wins. She was three times named the SUNY New Paltz team MVP and was named to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) All-Conference Team during her junior and senior seasons.

As a coach, Lukas has made stints at Ball State University in Indiana and at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. As the head coach at University of New Haven from 2000 to 2003, Lukas helped build a program that struggled through a nine-win season the year before to a team that eventually posted 26 wins in her final season with team.

In August 2004, Lukas transitioned to Ball State University to serve as an assistant coach at the Division I mid-major institution. While there, Lukas was largely responsible for the development of the pitching staff in addition to coordinating team travel, scouting and recruiting.

“We are extremely excited with the hire of Cristina Lukas,” said Erick Baumann, Director of Athletics and Recreation at Dominican University. “She brings with her invaluable experience as both an accomplished coach and Division III athlete.”

Release courtesy of Dominican University, Sports Information Department, June 20, 2006.