Tom Pardalis recently completed his 12th season as Manhattan's Head Softball Coach, and led the Jaspers to the 2021 MAAC Championship.
进入会场 tournament as the No. 6 seed, Manhattan took two-of-three from Iona to win the teams' quarterfinal series, before defeating Fairfield, Marist and Canisius en route to the Jaspers' first conference crown since 1999.
Nicole Williams won all five games for the Green & White in the 2021 MAAC Softball Championship and earned Most Outstanding Performer honors. Williams also collected All-MAAC Second Team and NFCA First Team All-Region honors. Annie Moore was voted to the All-MAAC First Team, while also joining Victoria Alonso, Marika Deemer and Emma Kindblom on the MAAC All-Championship Team.
Pardalis, who holds an overall record of 275-274-1, has led the Green & White to at least 25 victories seven times, including the squad’s first 30-win season in 23 years. Manhattan has also made eight appearances in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament during his tenure, twice reaching the championship round.
During his initial campaign in 2010, Pardalis guided the Jaspers to a 25-23-1 record and their second straight MAAC Tournament appearance. The 25 wins were Manhattan's highest total since 2006, which also marked the last time the Jaspers had finished above .500 prior to his arrival. In 2011, Manhattan finished above .500 again, going 25-23. The Jaspers defeated every team in the MAAC during the regular season, posting a school-record 12 conference wins en route to the No. 2 seed in the MAAC Tournament. It was Manhattan's third straight postseason appearance, matching the feat of the 2004-06 squads.
The Green & Whiitee returned to the postseason in 2014. After dropping its first game of the tournament, Manhattan, the No. 6 seed in the six-team event, knocked off Monmouth before notching an extra-innings victory over Siena. The Jaspers then beat top-seeded Marist 1-0 to advance to the championship round for the first time since 1999. Playing in its third straight game that day, Manhattan recorded another 1-0 triumph, this time over Iona, to set up a decisive contest. However, the Jaspers’ run would end with a loss to the Gaels the next day.
Led by unanimous MAAC Player of the Year Elena Bowman, the 2015 Jaspers won their first 10 conference games en route to a return trip to the MAAC Tournament. Manhattan finished the campaign with a 26-20 record, its fourth time winning at least 25 games in Pardalis’ tenure.
In 2016, Pardalis led the Jaspers to a 30-21 mark, including a 14-6 showing in MAAC play. It was Manhattan’s first 30-win season in 23 years, and the 14 conference victories, which established a program record, were good for second place in the MAAC. The Jaspers set single-season program records for runs, stolen bases and RBIs in 2016, and had four players named First Team All-MAAC.
The following year, Pardalis' squad set another record for the program by winning 34 games, finishing the season 34-21 overall. The team's 13-7 record in the league earned a fourth-place seed in the MAAC Tournament while Williams was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year.
Manhattan players have combined to earn 40 MAAC honorees in Pardalis’ 12 seasons at the helm. Bowman was the unanimous MAAC Player of the Year in 2015. She became just the second player in program history to receive the award, and the first since Jennifer Drum in 1995. Bowman and 2018 graduate Briana Matazinsky were three-time First Team All-MAAC selections under Pardalis, while Kate Bowen, Jaci Rahey, Jenn Vazquez and Lauren Pitney have all been chosen to the All-MAAC First Team twice. Pitney was the 2019 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, as well, the first in program history.
Under Pardalis' mentorship, Rahey earned a First Team All-Northeast Region selection in 2010, and Bowen took home First Team All-Northeast Region honors as a utility player in 2012. Bowman, meanwhile, was named First Team All-Northeast Region in 2013 and Second Team All-Region in both 2015 and 2016. She was also selected to the ECAC All-Star Team in both 2013 and 2015. Bowman was joined on the 2016 All-Region squad by Briana Matazinsky and Shannon Puthe. Matazinsky picked up All-Region Second Team honors in 2018. Pitney earned Third Team All-Region in 2018, and Second Team honors in 2019, while Annie Moore was named to the 2019 First Team.
In addition, Pardalis' student-athletes have found success in the classroom, earning a total of 98 MAAC All-Academic selections, including a MAAC-high 13 honorees in 2018. Bowman was named to the Academic All-America First Team in 2015, and she was a Second Team Senior CLASS Award All-American in 2016. Bowen, meanwhile, was chosen to the Academic All-America Third Team in 2014. Matazinsky was listed among the Senior CLASS Award's top-30 national candidates in 2018. Adriana Gambino was a two-time COSIDA Academic First Team All-District selection, as well as a Senior CLASS Award candidate in 2020.
A 40-year coaching veteran, Pardalis worked as an assistant at Western Connecticut State University, helping the Colonials win the 2007 ECAC Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2008. Also in 2008, he coached the Little East Conference Pitcher of the Year and four all-conference players.
Pardalis also served as an assistant coach at MAAC rival Marist for three seasons. He worked with the Red Foxes' hitters and outfielders, while also handling duties in recruiting, film work and scheduling. In 2006, Marist posted a 33-13 overall record en route to the MAAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. That season, the Red Foxes ranked eighth nationally in home runs per game, belting 47 in 46 contests. Marist also ranked 19th nationally in slugging percentage (.458) and 21st in earned run average (2.52) in 2006. Four Red Foxes earned All-MAAC honors that season, including both the MAAC Player of the Year and MAAC Pitcher of the Year.
From 1992-2001, Pardalis was the head coach of the varsity softball team at New Fairfield High School in New Fairfield, CT. New Fairfield won the 1999 Connecticut State Championship and produced six Division I softball players. Pardalis led the Rebels to four straight division championships (1993-96) and twice earned conference Coach of the Year honors (1994-95).
He also guided three different club teams to the PONY Nationals. In 1997, he led the Connecticut Legacy to the state championship and a fifth-place finish at the PONY Nationals in the under-14 division. He also led the under-16 Connecticut Crush to Nationals in 1998, and the under-18 Connecticut Tradition to the 1999 PONY Nationals.
Pardalis spent 37 years teaching physical education and coaching in the Connecticut Public School system before retiring following the 2008-09 school year. He has also coached football, basketball and baseball during his career, and he was the varsity boy's basketball coach at Danbury High School from 1996-2009. Pardalis spent time as an assistant men's basketball coach at Western Connecticut State from 1992-96, helping the Colonials win the 1995 ECAC Championship and qualify for the 1996 NCAA Tournament.
After graduating from Saint Leo College in 1972, Pardalis earned a master's degree from Western Connecticut State in 1978 and a degree in administration from Sacred Heart in 2002. He and his wife, Rosemary, have two children and four grandchildren.