Many athletes aspire to play their sport as long as possible; some even dream to continue their legacy as a coach and give back to the community, but that’s not something that always comes to fruition.
This past August, after a successful collegiate career, Meghan Giordano was named as an assistant coach for the Hofstra University softball team.
“I wasn’t really expecting it,” Giordano said. “I’ve always wanted to give back in whatever capacity that was. This place is like a home to me, so it was a no-brainer when [head coach Adrienne Clark] asked; it was all meant to be, I just didn’t know it yet.”
As the seventh inning of Giordano’s college career was coming to an end, she didn’t really see herself coaching directly after graduating from Hofstra, but she knew she wanted to coach later in life.
“Once I graduated, I knew I still had some school to finish up and I would go on to teach, then maybe in the coming years I would coach a high school team,” Giordano said. “I’ve coached travel in the past. I’ve always loved coaching and teaching. But again, this was a crazy opportunity and I would have been silly not to jump at it and make the most of it.”
It’s not all about the individual play that makes a great coach; leadership skills are important during both the good times and rough times. A former teammate of Giordano’s, Aliya Cantazarita, has spent her entire collegiate career as Giordano’s teammate up to this point and understands firsthand the impact she can make as a coach.
“She’s a great leader,” Catanzarita said. “She held everyone to a high standard like she held herself, and she pushed everyone to be great every day.”
Catanzarita weighed in on having one of her friends as one of her coaches now.
“Yeah, it’s a little different,” she said. “It’s just because we were teammates a couple of months ago, but I think she’s transitioned very nicely.”
Having been on the field since she was 12 years old, Giordano is knowledgeable both about the game and the necessary teaching qualities for maximum impact for this team.
“I think last year was really beneficial for me, just as someone who’s older and trying to understand what the girls need,” Giordano said. “I think the teaching aspect that we got last year was really important, and I think that’s something that I plan to incorporate more. Making sure to teach in different ways; [making] sure that everybody gets it and we’re all on the same page, even if that means moving slower at times.”
Giordano explained how she had to become more flexible in how she teaches and helps players improve by adding more tools to her coaching toolbox.
“Teaching [players] was a little bit harder in the beginning, but it’s gotten better everyday because I’ve gotten more comfortable,” Giordano said. “I’ve always been one to have a voice and use it all the time. Actually standing in front of them was a little weird, but it gets better every day and [the team is] super cool and respectful; they’ve made my life so much easier.”
Coaching at her alma mater gives her an intimate understanding into what she wants to incorporate or leave behind in her coaching routine.
“I think it’s really unique that I’m coaching at the same place that I played because I know what it’s like to play here,” Giordano said. “I know what it’s like to want things as a player, and I kind of have a sense of what their wants and needs are because I was recently in their shoes … I can say, ‘Hey, this is something I didn’t like too much in the past,’ or ‘This is something that I really liked,’ and I can incorporate that.”
Knowing when it’s time to get serious and when she can be their friend, not their coach, can be challenging.
“This was the one thing I thought was going to be the hardest,” Giordano said. “Since it felt like the hardest thing, I felt the most prepared for it in that aspect. But it’s been so easy because they’ve been so awesome. I think they are really respectful of my new role; they take it seriously, and they’re cool with me being there. We have mutual respect already and reflect relationships that we can just build on.”
Catanzarita is already seeing a positive impact that Giordano is making not only to the team but also to her own game.
“She just brings so much knowledge to the game, and she’s been great both defensively and mentally,” Catanzarita said. “She’s a very calm presence but [is also] serious and knows how to get things done. She’s also just like me, so having her around is really awesome. She’s taught me to never settle for anything less, hold myself to a high standard and give 110% regardless of how that day’s going for yourself or for the team.”
It goes without saying that Giordano has high expectations for everyone.
“Yeah, [the NCAA tournament is] our expectation every year,” Giordano said. “Our expectations are that we’re going to give it our all, get everything done, be a competitive team and win games. The way we’re building this team and installing this mindset of ‘this is what we’re about, we’re going to be competitive’ with the returning girls and seven new ones. We are going to play together as a team.”
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
