PROVIDENCE, R.I. – JWU (Providence) Director of Athletics Dana Garfield has announced the hiring of Laura Leonetti as head coach of the softball program.

A former National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) player with almost two decades of coaching experience as a college-level assistant, 18U head coach, and longtime private instructor, Leonetti spent the 2024 campaign as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Brown University. She was tasked with managing all aspects of the Bears defense, including skill instruction, player development, defensive practice plans, and teaching defensive conceptions, situational awareness, and game strategy.

"Laura's success as a student-athlete at Brown, and later as a coach and instructor, makes her an ideal choice to lead our softball program," said Garfield. "Her passion and energy not only for coaching, but for developing and mentoring our student-athletes, aligns perfectly with the values of the department. We are thrilled to have Laura onboard and look forward to watching the program grown under her tutelage."

In just one season, the Bears improved from sixth in The Ivy League in fielding pct. in 2023 (.965) to second (.972) in 2024 under the tutelage of Leonetti. Prior to her stint at Brown, she spent the summer of 2023 as an assistant coach with the Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), one of the top wood bat summer leagues in the country. The Schooners finished the regular season with the second-best record in the league. In the spring of 2023, Leonetti was a part-time assistant coach at Wesleyan (CT) University.

"I am honored and thrilled to lead the JWU softball program," said Leonetti. "I want to thank Director of Athletics Dana Garfield for this great opportunity to join the JWU family. This program has a strong track record of success in the classroom and on the field, and we aim to build upon that. I am excited to get to work."

Leonetti – who began her coaching career as an assistant at Brown in 2004 – spent two seasons at her alma mater managing the outfielders, providing defensive skill instruction, working with hitters, assisting with practice, game, and travel planning, and helping with player recruitment. She went on to earn a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 2010, during which time she began working as a softball instructor in Texas. Leonetti developed student-athletes and prepared them to play at the collegiate level. As head coach of the 18U Magic in Missouri City, Texas, she led her team to a regional championship in 2007.

A four-year starter for the Bears (2001-04), Leonetti was a three-time First Team All-Ivy selection (2002-04) and two-year captain (2003-04). She slashed .408/.520/.592 as a senior and posted a perfect 1.000 fielding pct. playing all 39 games at 2B, leading the Bears to an Ivy League title. Leonetti was named First Team All-Northeast Region and won the Marjorie Brown Smith Award for the Outstanding Female Athlete at Brown.

After graduating in 2004, Leonetti was drafted by the Texas Thunder in the NPF before being traded to the New England Riptide, where she started as the right fielder.

An experienced legal consultant, Leonetti spent more than a decade working on a wide range of consulting engagements, helping corporate law departments and law firms improve efficiency and productivity and reduce risk. Leonetti served five years on the Council for the State Bar of Texas Computer & Technology Section.