Head Coach Lisa Gigliello (15th season) 570-208-5900, ext. 5397 lisagigliello@kings.edu Head coach Lisa Gigliello took over the reigns of the Lady Monarch program during the 1994 season and has transformed King's into one of the premier programs in the Middle Atlantic Conference.
Gigliello had served as a King's assistant for four seasons before being promoted to head coach. In her first season, Gigliello took over a program which had won only four games in 1993 and promptly doubled the squad's victories in her first season. Vast improvement continued into the 1995 campaign as Gigliello led the Lady Monarchs to a 14-17 record, narrowly missing the MAC playoffs in the process.
In 1996, Gigliello led King's to its first-ever post-season playoff berth as the team advanced to the MAC "Final Four". In 1997, Gigliello coached King's to the program's first-ever 20-win campaign. After another 20-plus win campaign in 1998, Gigliello led the Lady Monarchs to their first post-season championship ever when the Lady Monarchs captured the 1999 Eastern College Athletic Conference Southern Region championship.
In 2000, Gigliello led King's to its finest season ever when the Lady Monarchs captured the MAC Freedom League championship, the MAC overall title, and advanced to the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the first time in school history. After guiding King's to a program best 38-6 mark, Gigliello was named MAC Freedom "Coach of the Year."
The 2001 season produced a third conference title, and second NCAA tournament appearance. The team finished the season with their 5th consecutive 20 win campaign, going 28-12. In 2002, King's won its third straight MAC Freedom championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament. The Lady Monarchs would drop a 2-0 heartbreaker to eventual national champion Ithaca while concluding a stellar 36-10-1 campaign.
The 2003 season resulted in a fourth straight MAC Freedom title and another trip to the national tournament as the Monarchs capped a 24-11 season. The 2004 season resulted in a fifth straight MAC Freedom title and another trip to the national tournament as the Monarchs capped a 39-10 season.
The 2005 season produced even more success as the team went 34-12, winning a 6th consecutive MAC Freedom title and advancing to within one game of the college world series. The 2006 squad finished second in the Freedom Conference Tournament but earned a seventh straight NCAA national tournament berth while concluding an outstanding 38-9 campaign.
In 2007, the Lady Monarchs regained their throne, finishing the year at 34-9, winning their seventh Freedom Conference title in eight years, and earning an eighth straight berth in the NCAA national tournament.Entering the 2007 season, Gigliello has a career head coaching mark at King's of 373-161-2, but the team has gone 336-111-2 since the 1997 season.
Since Gigliello took over the program in 1994, a total of 71 Lady Monarch players have been named to the MAC All-Star Team while 31 others have been named NCAA East Regional All-Americans.
King's teams have also excelled off the field as 71 Lady Monarchs have been named to the MAC All-Academic team and 41 to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Academic team.Gigliello is a graduate of Wilkes University where she earned a degree in electrical engineering, physics and an MBA. She also enjoyed an outstanding softball career as a two-time Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star. During her career, Wilkes won the MAC title and was ranked 10th in the nation. She was awarded Wilkes' Senior Student-Athlete Award for academic and athletic success. Gigliello was recently inducted into the Wilkes hall of fame.
A graduate of nearby Pittston Area High School where she was team most valuable player, Gigliello is a seven-time medalist in the Keystone State Games. She has been a player/manager on four ASA state championship summer league teams, as well as playing on two other state title teams, which have been ranked 13th in the nation.
If you would like to be recruited by Coach Gigliello to play softball at King's, click on the following link and fill out the online recruiting form: Prospective Athletes.
Assistant Coach Joann Matt (10th season) jkmatt@kings.edu Gigliello is assisted by Joann Matt. Matt is a fellow graduate of Wilkes, where she earned a medical technology degree and was a softball standout. Matt was also a member of four state championship teams with Coach Gigliello. Joann enters her 10th season on the Lady Monarch staff. In her first year with the program, Joann helped bring King's their first conference championship with an Eastern College Athletic Conference title in 1999. Matt oversees the development of the outfield play and hitting.
Volunteer Assistant Coach Lisa Rizzo (6th season) lisarizzo@kings.edu Lisa Rizzo enters her sixth season on the staff after completing a stellar four-year softball career at King's, which included numerous individual & team records, several All-Star and All-Academic selections. Rizzo helped guide King's to an ECAC title, three straight MAC Freedom Conference championships, and three consecutive NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances. In addition to practice coordination, Lisa is responsible for recruitment of prospective players and Softball Open House scheduling.
Intern Assistant Coach Stacey Preambo (1st season) staceypreambo@kings.edu Stacey returns to King's after completing an excellent four-year career with the Monarchs. While on the squad she earned two conference MVP titles, two Regional All American Awards, three Conference All-Star awards, and was a member of four Freedom Conference Championship teams with four NCAA National Tournament appearances.
Pitching Coach Cherub Straigis (4th season) Cherub graduated from Lake Lehman High School where she was a standout pitcher. After graduation, Cherub earned a softball scholarship to NCAA Division II power Bloomsburg University, where she was a member of the Huskies staff. Cherub is responsible for the pitching staff and their development.
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
1 (888) KINGS PA
Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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