Oct. 6, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Laura DeZolt, a former softball player at La Salle, had been named an assistant softball coach at Temple, head coach Joe DiPietro announced today.

"I'm very excited to have Laura as a member of my very first coaching staff at Temple," said DiPietro. "She was my first recruit at La Salle and I thought it was very important to have someone here that I was familiar with in the pitching area. We needed a pitching coach and I thought she was very good at what she did and I think she's going to be a very good asset to the program."

"I am very excited and honored to be here at Temple as a member of the Coach DiPietro's staff," said DeZolt.

A Morrisville, PA native, DeZolt played her college ball at La Salle under DiPietro. During her senior season with the Explorers in 2007, DeZolt led the Explorers on the mound in wins (10), ERA (4.13), strikeouts (126) and complete games (20). At the plate, she lead the team in home runs (4)doubles (10) and triples (2) while finishing second on the team in batting average (.268), hits (30) and RBI (17). A team captain for both her junior and senior seasons, she was also honored as Team MVP during her junior season.

As a gradate of Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, she helped to guide the Eagles to two consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League titles. She was named First Team All-Catholic four times and three-times honored as league MVP.

DeZolt's primary coaching responsibility will be with the pitching staff. She will also assist with the infielders.

Along with her playing career, DeZolt has coached in softball camps and clinics at La Salle, Pennsbury High School and Conwell-Egan Catholic High School.