ITHACA, N.Y. – On Monday, June 10, Ithaca College Director of Athletics, Susan Bassett '79, announced the appointment of alumna, and IC Hall of Famer, Hannah Shalett Quintana '07 as head coach for the softball program. Quintana becomes the fifth head coach in the 52-year history of the storied program and starts at IC on July 8, 2019.

"I am truly thrilled for Hannah Shalett Quintana '07 to return to South Hill and assume the leadership of the Ithaca College softball program. I have absolute confidence in her ability to take the reins for our thriving softball program from her coach and mentor, Deb Pallozzi, and lead us to sustained excellence and national prominence."  Bassett continued, "As one of our hall of fame softball players, former captain, and the first full-time assistant softball coach at IC, Hannah knows and has lived Bomber values, the foundation for our success. She has been tested as a head coach and has gained important experience during her time at Skidmore College."

"I would like to thank Susan Bassett and the entire search committee for entrusting me with the future of the Bomber softball program," said Shalett Quintana. "During this process, they showed a clear passion and deep respect for the program and its sustained excellence. I am truly honored and humbled to accept this position at my alma mater. I look forward to returning to a place that feels like home, as I strive to bridge the illustrious past of this program with its promising future."
 
"I would also like to thank Skidmore College and Athletic Director Gail Cummings Danson. It has been an honor working at Skidmore over the last six years. I feel I was pushed to grow and adapt as a head coach, and built relationships with colleagues and student-athletes that will carry on even as I depart for South Hill," Shalett Quintana continued.

One of the most successful players in softball history, Shalett Quintana played an integral part in Ithaca's four trips to regionals and two appearances at the NCAA College World Series under Pallozzi. Ithaca went 133-45 with Shalett Quintana behind the plate during her four seasons, which included being named NFCA Catcher of the Year, Empire 8 Woman of the Year and First-Team NFCA All-American in 2007. She was also part of the battery in the team's 40-7 season in 2006, which remains the program standard for most victories. Shalett Quintana was also a four-time all-region and all-conference performer, as well as an all-tournament selection at regionals and the World Series. She hit .417 during her senior season with 55 hits, 31 RBI, 26 runs scored and 12 doubles. The year prior, Shalett Quintana scored 46 runs to go along with a .362 average and 54 hits. Shalett Quintana posted career totals of 175 hits (.351 average), 107 runs scored, 102 RBI and 43 doubles. Defensively, she made just five errors in 958 total chances. Her 46 runs scored in 2006 rank third on the single-season list, while her 107 career runs scored are eighth all-time, and 102 runs batted in rank fifth in program history.

Shalett Quintana graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a concentration in Criminal and Juvenile Justice, a minor in Sports Studies from IC in 2007.  She went on to earn a Master of Science degree from Smith College in Exercise and Sports Studies where she served as an assistant softball coach. Shalett Quintana returned to South Hill in 2009 as IC's first-ever full-time assistant softball coach for four seasons. In her role as assistant coach, she served as the recruiting coordinator and director of fund raising, establishing the Bomber Breakfast which continues to be an outstanding community event and program fund raiser. During Shalett Quintana's time as assistant coach, the softball program earned three regular season conference first place finishes, two Empire 8 Tournament Championships, three NCAA appearances and one NCAA Regional Championship, finishing with a seventh place national finish. The overall record during this time was 121-58.

In 2013, Shalett Quintana was named head softball coach at Liberty League member Skidmore College.  As just the second full-time head coach for the Thoroughbreds, Shalett Quintana's teams have contended for conference tournament appearances, finishing in second place in the Liberty League in 2016 and earning coaching staff of the year honors in 2014. Shalett Quintana developed one NFCA All-American, three all-region and 10 all-conference players, along with one Liberty League Rookie of the Year. She has taught in the physical education program and served in event management for Skidmore.

"Shalett Quintana '07 was selected through a highly competitive, rigorous national search process and I thank the members of the search committee; associate director, Erienne Roberts, men's basketball coach Jim Mullins, field hockey coach Kaitlyn Wahila, gymnastics coach Rick Suddaby and alumna softball veteran Mairin Dudak '02 along with our interview team of head coaches, students and campus partners for their assistance in this important process. We had an excellent pool of finalists and Hannah Shalett Quintana earned the consensus that she is the right person to lead Bomber Softball as our fifth head coach," concluded Bassett.