SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame head softball coach Deanna Gumpf announced the departure of associate coach Lizzy Ristano earlier this week. Ristano, a former captain for the Fighting Irish, has been on staff for the past 17 seasons and earned her undergraduate degree from Notre Dame.
“For 17 years, Lizzy has given her heart and soul to this program and she will be greatly missed.” Gumpf said, “She has been so much more than just a coach. She’s been true, loyal and committed. She has been a dear friend throughout the years and we are so blessed to have had her on staff for as long as we did. I’m honored to have watched her family thrive and see her beautiful children grow. No matter what she chooses to do, she will be amazing at it. She is a phenomenal woman, mother and friend and I’m so lucky to be part of her journey.”
“For the past 17 years, I have been beyond blessed to have Notre Dame Softball as a daily staple in my life.” Ristano said, “I have cherished every moment with every current and past player in this program. I am so unbelievably grateful for the relationships we have built and the lessons we have learned along the way. Thank you to Deanna for giving me this opportunity. It has been one of the greatest honors in my life! Go Irish Softball, always and forever!”
Ristano started as an assistant coach in 2006 before being promoted to associate coach in 2013. With Ristano on staff, the Irish have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in every full season. She was part of five staffs that earned Coaching Staff of the Year awards, two in the BIG EAST and three as part of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Region.
In her time, Ristano has helped mentor 64 NFCA All-Region honorees, 41 First Team, four Conference Player of the Year honorees, a Conference Freshman of the Year and 78 All-Conference selections.
In her time with the Irish, Ristano led the offense to new heights. Her offenses hit for a combined .311 average in 17 seasons, and scored an average of 5.42 runs per game. Nine seasons saw the Irish hit above the .300 mark, led by a program record .357 average in 2014. Just five times prior to 2006 saw Notre Dame hit for a team average above .300. 10 seasons saw Notre Dame score an average of more than five runs per game, an average that was hit just four times prior to Ristano’s appointment. This past season saw the Irish hit for an ACC-best .331 average, the best team average since 2014 (program record – .357) and was tied for the top mark nationally with a 1.81 doubles per game.
In her playing career, Ristano, formerly Lemire, captained the most successful team in program history as she powered the 2001 team to a program record 54-7 mark, a No. 7 national ranking and the program’s first number one seed in the NCAA Regionals. At the conclusion of her playing career, she held the program’s record for doubles in a season (17), before tutoring All-American Emilee Koerner who would go on to break Ristano’s record, hitting 28 in 2014. Her senior class compiled a record of 177-63, won two BIG EAST Tournament Championships, four regular season conference titles and made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Ristano departs the softball program to be with her family as her husband recently accepted a new position.