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Southern Connecticut State University Athletics

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John Steady
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John Vanacore
Barbaro

Lisa Barbaro

Lisa Barbaro is the only coach in Southern Connecticut State University history with 300 wins in two different sports and the Owls' all-time leader in coaching victories with 625 wins through the 2025-26 season.

Entering her 23rd season as head volleyball coach in 2026-27, Barbaro has amassed 318 volleyball wins. Coupled with 307 wins in 10 seasons as SCSU's softball coach (2005-2014), she is the only coach in NCAA Division II history with 300+ wins in both volleyball and softball.

Barbaro led both programs to unprecedented heights during 10 seasons as a dual head coach. She is the only SCSU coach to lead two programs to the NCAA Tournament.

Volleyball (2004-present: 318 wins)
  • NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017, 2018 and 2021.
  • Captured the 2018 Northeast-10 Conference Championship - the first in program history.
  • Has led the Owls to six 20-win seasons, including a program-record 25 wins in 2009. Coached three All-Americans - Leanna Jadus (2017), Alyssa Gage (2018), Kerrigan Habing (2025) - along with 30 All-NE10 and 11 All-Region honorees.
  • Program has earned 10 AVCA Team Academic Awards (2015-2021, 2025, 2026) and three SCSU Academic Team of Champions awards.
Softball (2005-2014: 307-184-3, .625)
  • Built SCSU into a national contender with seven NCAA Tournament appearances, three Regional Final appearances, and a trip to the 2012 College World Series with a No. 6 final national ranking.
  • Coached three All-Americans - Kristin Whitley (2011), Brittany Bucko (2012), Alyssa Downs (2012).
  • The 2012 team won 43 games, including the program's first-ever World Series win.
  • The 2010 team set a then program-record 42 wins and won the program's first NE10 Tournament title.
  • Two-time NE10 Tournament Champions (2010, 2011).
  • Named 2012 NE10 Coach of the Year and NFCA East Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
Barbaro was a two-year member of the Owls' volleyball program (2000-01) and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing. As a scholastic athlete at The Morgan School in Clinton, Conn., she played on six state championship teams and was a two-time New Haven Register Athlete of the Year. She is a member of the Connecticut Women's Volleyball Hall of Fame (2005), New Haven Tap-Off Club Hall of Fame (2017) and Clinton Athletic Hall of Fame (2022).