Aug. 26, 2002

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Siena College announced the hiring of Patti Brun as head softball coach today. Brun, who will be a full-time employee in the department, begins work immediately.

Brun brings a nation-spanning softball background that began in her home state as an undergraduate at the University of Hawaii. As a senior in 1994, Brun was named NCAA Women of the Year in the State of Hawaii after helping the Rainbows to a share of the Big West Championship. She continued her playing career with the San Jose Spitfires of the Ladies Professional Baseball League, where she was selected Most Valuable Player of the league after leading San Jose to the 1997 Championship.

Brun comes to Siena most recently from California State University, Diminguez Hills, where she served as assistant softball coach since 1998 and assistant athletics academic advisor since 2001. Brun will also be responsible for assisting in Siena's athletic academic advising office, where she will oversee the Saints' involvement in the NCAA Champs Life Skills program.

"We are extremely excited to be able to hire a softball coach with Patti's extensive qualifications," said Athletic Director John D'Argenio. "Our student-athletes will benefit from her unique softball background as well as her past successes on and off the playing field."

In the summer of 2000, Brun traveled overseas where she served as head softball coach of the Solvesborg Giant Ants in Solvesborg, Sweden. Her athletic coaching background also includes stints as head volleyball coach at Encinal High School in Alameda, Calif. (1996-1998), assistant softball coach at Encinal (1996-1997) and Moanalua High School in Moanalula, Hawaii (1994-1995) and most recently coordinator of softball for Los Angeles' Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program this summer.

Brun takes over a Siena team that finished the 2002 season with a 12-26 overall record, 5-11 in the MAAC. The Saints return 16 players, 11 of whom were freshman last year.