Aug. 21, 2006

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.-Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray announced Monday that Erin Layton has been named head softball coach. Layton takes over for Melissa Tucci, who departed the Town of Poughkeepsie campus to take a coaching position at Georgia Tech following the Red Foxes' 2006 MAAC Championship season.

Layton comes to Marist after serving as head softball coach at Saint Francis (Pa.) for two seasons following a stint as head coach at the College of Saint Elizabeth (N.J.) in 2004.

Prior to her season at the helm at Saint Elizabeth, Layton served as an assistant at Furman University (S.C.) for two years, helping lead the Paladins to a 24-24 overall record and an appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament title game in 2002. Layton also served as an assistant at Brown University (R.I.) for one season.

A four-year letterwinner during her playing career at the University of Connecticut, Layton earned first-team All-Big East accolades as a junior and senior and was a member of two Big East Tournament championship teams. A catcher, Layton batted .297 over four seasons and ranks in UConn's Top 10 in five career categories, including games played (209), runs batted in (100), and base hits (211). The Huskies posted a composite record of 127-83-1 during her collegiate career, including a 55-15 mark in Big East play, and advanced to NCAA Regional competition in 1995 and 1996.

Upon graduation from Connecticut, Layton played professionally for the New Jersey Diamonds of the Ladies Professional Baseball League. The Trenton, NJ, native was selected Player-of-the-Decade by the Trenton Times newspaper in 1999.

Layton earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education in 1998 and a master's degree in sports management in 2000, both from Connecticut.