University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn softball adds Christie Novatin as Assistant Coach
7/24/2019 1:43:00 PM | Softball
STORRS, Conn.—Head Coach Laura Valentino has announced the addition of Christie Novatin to the coaching staff, as an assistant coach.
"I'm so thrilled to have Christie join the UConn softball family," said Valentino. "She has the energy, passion, knowledge, and work ethic I'm looking for to build a championship culture on and off the field at UConn. Christie was a teammate of mine at Hofstra, and I'm so excited to be back working together to achieve a common goal. I know she will be a great asset to our offense at UConn and on the recruiting trail. I'm so lucky to have Christie on my staff and can't wait for our student-athletes to meet, and start working with her."
"I am really proud to be joining UConn Nation," said Novatin. "I want to personally thank Laura Valentino for the opportunity to be a part of her program as we share the vision to uphold UConn's reputation of competitive excellence. I can't wait to meet our student-athletes and start on our journey!"
With more than nine years of experience as a softball coach, Novatin comes to Storrs having won six conference tournaments out of the 10 she has attended both as a coach and student-athlete.
Novatin joined the coaching staff at Princeton University in June of 2015. She helped create and implement offensive strategies that increased overall batting averages and slugging percentages, while decreasing the number of strikeouts. These tactics aided in back-to-back Ivy League Championships for the Tigers.
Prior to her time with Princeton, Novatin served in the same capacity at the University at Albany. While there, she served as the primary hitting coach in addition to working with the infield and outfield. She provided coaching that increased offensive production that led the conference in several categories in addition being crowned America East Champions in 2014.
Novatin's coaching experience also includes time at Rider University and Georgian Court College.
A graduate of Hofstra University in 2010, she earned her bachelor of science in exercise science with a minor in physical education. Novatin was a member of a Hofstra softball team that won four Colonial Athletic Association conference titles, several conference championships, made three NCAA Regional appearances, two NCAA Regional Finals appearances, and finished statistically as one of the top-5 defensive teams in the country.
