HARTFORD, Conn. – Trinity College has announced the appointment of Lena Springer as head softball coach.  Springer joins the Bantams from the University of Texas-El Paso where she was the pitching coach for the last two seasons. She also served as pitching coach at Delaware State for two seasons following a year as an assistant coach with the Bantams in 2019.  Springer replaces Mackenzie Keyes who resigned after one season to take a coaching position at the University of Connecticut.

"We are excited to welcome Lena back to Trinity and believe she will lead the Bantam Softball program to exceptional heights," said Trinity Athletic Director Drew Galbraith. "She communicated a clear plan to invest in the growth of our student-athletes and believes in the department's vision of inspiring students to be excellent as scholars, athletes and members of our community."

Springer graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice studies in 2017 and added a master's degree in sports administration from Delaware State. As a player for the Buckeyes, Springer played in two NCAA Tournaments and went 8-4 in the circle with a 2.74 ERA in 74 innings pitched as a senior.  A new Britain, Conn. native, Springer also attended the University of Central Florida for whom she competed in the 2014 NCAA Championship Tourney.  Springer was also a member of the Puerto Rican Junior National Team for the 2013 World Championships in Toronto. Prior to Trinity, she coached at Olentangy Liberty High School in Ohio was a pitching instructor locally at the Diamond Club in East Hartford. 

"I am thankful for Drew Galbraith, Kristen Noone, Ali Fahey and the rest of the search committee at Trinity College for the opportunity to be the next head coach of the Trinity College Softball Team," said Springer.  "I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the young women of Trinity College in the NESCAC. As a native of Connecticut, I am excited to be a part of Trinity's culture of competitive excellence both on the field and off!"

Springer comes from a strong athletic lineage. Her mother, Laura Springer, and father, George Springer, Jr., competed in gymnastics and football, respectively, at the University of Connecticut, while her sister, Nicole Springer, played softball at Central Connecticut State. Her brother, George Springer III, was the 11th overall selection of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft and was a 2017 World Series Champion with the Houston Astros. He now plays for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Trinity softball finished the 2022 season with a 13-20 overall record and in sixth place in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) East with an 8-10 division mark.  The Bantams qualified for the NESCAC Championship Tournament for the 11th time, falling, 1-0, against Williams College in the quarterfinal round.