Jen Petteys was named the fourth full-time York College softball head coach on January 14, 2013. Petteys is the seventh coach since the start of the program in 1988.

Petteys brings a wealth of coaching and playing experience to the 2013 York College softball squad.  Petteys was an accomplished player at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y. and has successful coaching experience at a variety of levels. She began her coaching journey after graduating from St. John Fisher College in 1999.

A centerfielder in college, Petteys has an in-depth understanding of all aspects of collegiate softball. She earned NFCA All-Region 1^st Team and NYSWCAA All-State 1^st Team accolades in 1999 as her Cardinal team won the NYS Championship, and after narrowly missing an NCAA Championship bid, her team battled back in the loser's bracket to win the ECAC North Championship. Also during 1999, Petteys powered the Cardinals to one of the most remarkable runs not only in Fisher softball history, but in Division III softball where her team won 31 of their final 35 games and finished the season with a 39-11 overall record. The Cardinals won 106 games during Petteys' four-year career including the school-record 39 victories in 1999.

Petteys is excited about the future of the Spartan program.

"York College is a fantastic place to build a program and being head coach at the collegiate level has been a personal long-term goal. The College is a dynamic and impressive environment and I believe the type of student-athletes we will be able to attract will enable us to become a destination place for collegiate softball."

Petteys was the girls' varsity softball coach for eight years at Canajoharie High School in Canajoharie, N.Y. where she compiled a record of 90-47-1 with sectional tournament berths in each of those eight campaigns.

Petteys then spent two seasons at SUNY Cobleskill as assistant softball coach for the Fighting Tigers. This past summer, Petteys was hired as assistant softball coach at Herkimer County Community College. The Generals were 38-6 overall, 33-1 in the region, 12-0 in the Mountain Valley Conference and finished fifth at the NJCAA Division III Softball National Championship Tournament in the 2012 season.

Prior to accepting the job at York, she served as President and Head Coach of the Tri-Valley Aces Travel softball organization. Petteys was the head coach of the team that went 49-13 during the summer of 2012. That record included a top five finish at the 16U Eastern National Tournament in Sterling, VA. The elite summer travel team was comprised of recruited players from a five county area in upstate New York.

Petteys still holds single-season records for hits (72 in 1999) and stolen bases (21 in 1996), and is second in runs scored (52 in 1999) and sacrifices (21 in 1999).  She currently holds career offensive records for hits (223), on base (312) and on base percentage (.502).  She is in the NCAA Division III record book for at bats in a season (174).  She also got the job done in the classroom as she graduated Cum Laude from Fisher with a Bachelors' degree in Sociology/concentration in Criminal Justice.  She is currently pursuing her Masters in Sports Coaching with an emphasis in NCAA compliance through the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, AL.

Petteys was inducted into the St. John Fisher Athletic Hall of Fame on September 28, 2006.

Petteys' athletic success allows her to reach student-athletes, both during the recruiting process and when they arrive at York.

"I was fortunate to have a successful playing career and I carry those experiences into my coaching.  I understand what it's like to face situations as an athlete and can help our players become better -- both on and off the field. I seek players who are, first and foremost, great people," says the new Spartan leader. "Being great students and great players are important, but I believe that student-athletes with great character will provide us with our best chance to become champions. I want our student-athletes to have a mindset of hard work, commitment and dedication. I want them to have the willingness to sacrifice for their teammates, and to leave it all on the field. I am very structured and organized and I am clear about my expectations.  I care about my student-athletes and I believe in my ability to develop them not only as softball players, but as people, as students, and as human beings who will finish the program prepared for life and its' challenges. "

Professionally, prior to coming to York, Petteys had served 12 years as the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Department of Youth, ATI, & Veteran Services. She also served as the Coordinator of the Montgomery County STOP-DWI program, was a member of the Executive Board for the Association of New York State Youth Bureaus and served on various task forces, coalitions and community action committees throughout Montgomery County.

Petteys knows what fans should expect from her teams on the field and in the classroom. 

"We are going to be prepared and play hard from the first pitch to the last out," states the Spartan head coach. "We are going to be a team that is able to make adjustments and a team that will improve each day, whether it is in a game or during practice. I expect my players to control the controllable: Attitude and Effort. I want us to play hard and to play smart. We will respect the game, the opponent, and the process of improving as individuals and as a team."

Petteys is ACE Softball Certified under the Amateur Softball Association and NYS Education Department permanent professional coaching certified in the sport of softball.

Petteys has great support at home as her family will remain in New York until the end of the 2012-13 school year. She has been married to DJ Petteys since December 2001 and the couple are the parents to 10-year-old son CJ Petteys and 7-year-old daughter Cat Petteys. Both children are highly involved in athletics. CJ is an avid baseball player that is currently playing on an elite 10U Capital Renegades travel team. Cat played on a 10U softball team in upstate NY in the spring of 2012.

“Without my loving family and the tremendous level of support and encouragement, I would have never had the opportunity to follow my dreams that led me to York College. I am so thankful for them and can’t wait until we all make the transition to our new home in York.”

(Updated 1/16/13)