PHILADELPHIA - Rocci Pignoli, who guided the Temple University softball team to its only NCAA Tournament appearance, retired officially as the program's head coach effective June 30, 2005. Pignoli, and his wife of 38 years, Cheryl, are planning to move to The Villages, Florida.
"Temple gave me a great opportunity," said Pignoli, who retires as the second all-time winningest softball coach (175 wins) in school history. "My time at Temple has been a positive for me. The administration has always supported the program and if there is anything I can do for Temple in the future I will be there."
The 2004 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Pignoli compiled a 175-208-1 record over his eight years at the Owls' helm and a more impressive 75-53 mark in conference play. Five of his eight teams advanced to the four-team A-10 Tournament with his 2004 team capturing the A-10 Championship and earning a NCAA Tournament bid. That 2004 squad boasted a 30-18 record and placed second in the conference regular season standings with a 9-3 league mark. It was the fourth straight second place regular finish for the Temple softball team.
"Rocci has made Temple softball one of the top programs in the Atlantic 10 Conference as well as the Mid-Atlantic Region," stated Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw. "He will be missed not only for his contributions in terms of games won, but in terms of the lives of the student athletes he has touched."
Pignoli, who served as an assistant coach from 1995 through 1997 prior to taking over the program at the start of the 1998 season, has coached five all-conference performers during his tenure, including 2004 Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year Kim Watkins and 2002 A-10 Rookie of the Year Aida Esquer. He also has had four All-Region performers with current assistant coach Bari Lynn Pflueger earning the honor three times. Nine of his players have earned A-10 All-Tournament honors with Richelle Villescas garnering Tournament MVP honors in 2004. Additionally four Temple softball players earned academic all-conference honors during his tenure with Alexis Gary being named an Academic All-America in 2002.
Prior to his arrival at Temple, the 59-year-old Pignoli had a 26-year association with softball at the high school and league levels. He was the Nor-Gwyn 18-and-under girls' Amateur Softball Association's travel team head coach and manager. He was the head coach at Conestoga High School from 1993--94, where he compiled a 44-5 record. His Conestoga team won the Central League Championship in back-to-back seasons and advanced to the District I semifinal game in 1993. In 1994, the team was undefeated and finished as district runner-up and advanced to the state tournament.
