Looking to resurrect its softball program, Manhattan College tabbed Tom Pardalis as its new coach. The 37-year coaching veteran was an assistant at Marist when the Red Foxes won the MAAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2006 and has held different jobs on the collegiate and high-school level.
“Manhattan College is extremely lucky to have Tom on board,” Manhattan athletic director Bob Byrnes said. “His credentials, teaching expertise and positive attitude will do nothing but help us be better this year and for years to come. He takes over a talented team that hopefully can take the next step to the NCAA tournament.”
Pardalis has been a collegiate assistant coach the last six years, most recently at Western Connecticut State University, where he helped the Colonials win the 2007 ECAC Championship and advance to the NCAA tournament in 2008. Before that, Pardalis was an assistant coach at MAAC rival Marist for three seasons. He worked with the Red Foxes’ hitters and outfielders, while also handling duties in recruiting, film work and scheduling. In 2006, Marist posted a 33-13 overall record en route to the MAAC championship and an NCAA tournament appearance.
Pardalis was the head coach of the varsity softball team at New Fairfield (Conn.) HS for close to a decade, from 1992-2001. New Fairfield won the 1999 Connecticut state championship and produced six Division I softball players that year. Pardalis led the Rebels to four straight division championships (1993-96) and twice earned conference Coach of the Year honors (1994-95).
He also guided three different club teams to the PONY Nationals. In 1997, he led the Connecticut Legacy to the state championship and a fifth-place finish at the PONY Nationals in the under-14 division. He also led the under-16 Connecticut Crush to Nationals in 1998, and the under-18 Connecticut Tradition to the 1999 PONY Nationals.
Pardalis has spent the past 37 years teaching physical education and coaching in the Connecticut public school system. He has also coached football, basketball and baseball during his career, and he has been the varsity boys’ basketball coach at Danbury HS since 1996. Pardalis spent time as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Western Connecticut State from 1992-96, helping the Colonials win the 1995 ECAC Championship and qualify for the 1996 NCAA tournament.
A 1972 graduate of Saint Leo College, Pardalis earned a master’s degree from Western Connecticut State in 1978 and a degree in administration from Sacred Heart in 2002.
