DAYTON - University of Dayton softball head coach Cara LaPlaca has announced the addition of Sara Plourde as assistant coach to her staff. Plourde, a 2012 graduate of University of Massachusetts, comes to Dayton following a stellar softball career with the Canadian National Team and as a member of National Pro Fastpitch's (NPF) Carolina Diamonds, NY/NJ Comets, Houston Scrapyard Dawgs and Canadian Wild.

"Sara Plourde is the ideal addition to our staff. She's had extensive experience and success collegiately, professionally and internationally," commented LaPlaca about the addition of Plourde to her staff. "In addition, Sara is familiar with the Atlantic 10 Conference and will fit seamlessly into our program culture. We expect her leadership to have an immediate impact and are excited to welcome her to the Flyer family."

Plourde will be tasked with developing and guiding the pitching staff while also coordinating recruiting and opponent scouting. She will also be serving as the program's community service liaison.

She comes to Dayton from her role as director of operations and assistant to the president of The BASE: Baseball and Softball Academy, a year-round athletic training, conditioning and competition academy for youths in underserved urban areas. Plourde served as a coach and mentor to student-athletes via private lessons, clinics and college prep curriculum.

A former foe of the Dayton Flyers, Plourde helped lead her Massachusetts Minutewomen to three Atlantic 10 Conference Titles and three NCAA Regional appearances during her time in Amherst. She was named the 2012 Atlantic 10 Player and Pitcher of the Year and earned All-America accolades multiple times while at UMASS. A three-time conference Pitcher of the Year, Plourde still holds the school record for career strikeouts/seven innings (12.05 – 3rd NCAA) and career strikeouts (1,662 – 8th NCAA).

"As a former Atlantic 10 Conference athlete, I am extremely excited to return to the A-10 as an assistant coach for the Dayton Flyers," Plourde said. "I am looking forward to learning from Coach LaPlaca and contributing to the continuous success of this program!"

Plourde was a member of the Canadian National Team 2013-2019 and earned three medals with the squad, including a silver-medal finish at the 2013 Pan-American Championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In addition to her time in NPF, she also had stops at Texas El Paso and Lafayette College serving as assistant coach with an emphasis on pitching instruction.