Bob Guerriero Elevated to Head Coach of St. John’s Softball

St. John's Athletic Director Mike Cragg officially announced on Wednesday that longtime assistant and associate head coach Bob Guerriero has been elevated to the position of head coach of the Red Storm softball program. Most recently, Guerriero had been serving as the program's interim head coach since the retirement of Amy Kvilhaug in September. "After careful consideration, it was very clear to the athletics administration and search committee that Bob will be a strong leader of the softball program and its student-athletes," said Cragg. "His values, vision, and passion made this a clear choice and it is well-earned. Continuing the successful upward trend of the program is essential as we focus on our commitment to the student-athletes and their experiences on and off the softball field." Guerriero brings 18 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level to the St. John's softball program, dedicating all 18 of his seasons to the BIG EAST. Guerriero served as assistant coach for the Red Storm through 2012 until being elevated to associate head coach in the summer of 2015. Prior to his time on the Johnnies' coaching staff, Guerriero spent 12 seasons as an assistant coach at Seton Hall. During his time with the Pirates, Guerriero helped Seton Hall to five BIG EAST Championship appearances, including a pair of back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005. The Garwood, N.J., native has contributed to 158 victories since his arrival in Queens and has helped the Johnnies reach the postseason in five of his six years with the program. Most recently Guerriero is coming off a campaign that saw the Johnnies blast 62 roundtrippers, shattering the previous program record of 45. Led by that potent offense, St. John's earned a trip to the BIG EAST Softball Championship for the fifth-consecutive year. "I would like to thank our athletic director, Mike Cragg, and our Senior Deputy Athletics Director, Kathy Meehan, for their diligent work in paving the way to make this day happen," said Guerriero. "It is truly is a dream come true for me. I couldn't have done this without my wife and daughters, who also deserve a big thank you for their continuous support over the years. My goal is to continue to provide a positive experience both on and off the field for all of the women that come through the St. John's softball program. I will carry on the tradition of excellence that has been established in the program and in representing St. John's University." During his third year with the Red Storm, Guerriero led St. John's to a historic season that included the program's first ever BIG EAST title and its first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Because of those achievements and his undeniable development of the St. John's offense during his first three years, Guerriero was promoted to the position of associate head coach in the summer of 2015. During his time with the program, Guerriero has mentored 16 All-BIG EAST selections, including four major award winners in BIG EAST Players of the Year Krystal Puga (2018) and Erin Burner (2015), as well as BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Tori Free (2015) and BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Gretchen Bowie (2018). Guerriero has garnered accolades of his own. After helping guide the Johnnies to their second BIG EAST Regular Season Championship in 2017, Guerriero, along with Kvilhaug and Assistant Coach Alyssa Tiumalu, were named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year. That season, Guerriero guided the team to program records with 17 BIG EAST wins and a .667 winning percentage. In addition, St. John's matched a 27-year-old St. John's record with 32 victories and set new single-season marks with 277 runs scored and 251 RBIs. For their efforts, the Johnnies placed a league-high seven players on the All-BIG EAST First and Second Teams.