(Canton, N.Y.)-  SUNY Canton's athletic department has hired Bryan Ingalls as the Roos new head women's softball coach.

Ingalls spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Herkimer County Community College where he served primarily as a hitting, pitching and catching coach.  During his tenure at Herkimer, the Generals won Mountain Valley Conference championships in 2009 and 2011, and in his final season Herkimer was ranked nationally in the top 10 for the entire year finishing 35-9.  Ingalls was most recently an assistant coach at SUNY Cortland in the fall of 2011 before coming to SUNY Canton.

In addition to coaching at the collegiate level, Ingalls has also coached the Cortland State club softball team; was head coach of the Redskin Rebels 19U Rome Girls' softball team; served as an assistant coach with the Mohawk Valley Mystic 16/18U Travel Team; and was an assistant coach at Oriskany Central School helping the Redskins win three straight sectional championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

“Bryan has tremendous experience and passion for softball,” said athletic director Randy Sieminski. “He has a successful college coaching background of building strong programs and outstanding athletes. The Roos softball team has been extremely successful with conference championships and national playoff appearances each of the past two seasons. We are confident the program will continue to excel with Bryan at the helm.”

Ingalls takes over the program from Diane Para who stepped down in the fall after successfully rebuilding the program over the last two seasons.

“This is a great opportunity to take over a successful program at a college that is growing so quickly,” said Ingalls. “We've got some extremely talented athletes on this team, and I'm looking forward to a terrific season.”

Ingalls also has an extensive background directing and coaching softball clinics and camps. He plays both softball and baseball and currently plays fast pitch in the summer time traveling throughout the country participating in tournaments. He also plays in the Northern League in Central New York for Roberts Post Fast Pitch.

“I would like to thank my friends and family for all the support they have given me, especially the coaches who I have worked with and learned from the last five years,” said Ingalls. “I owe a lot to Coach Eric Enos at Oriskany and Amy Dommer at Herkimer for giving me my start in coaching softball. The guidance from Dan Stalteri of Herkimer High School and HCCC, and PJ Anadio was incredible for pushing me to new levels as a coach.  I also owe a special thanks to Julie Lenhart at Cortland for her tremendous guidance.  Without them I would not be in the position I am today, guiding the talented Roos softball team.”