Meet The 2023/24 Coaches
Coach
Bio
Kathleen Hutchings. Futures. "Hutch". Hutch enters her first full season with the Vipers and her second softball season. She coaches our summer Renegades program in 2023 and is ready to take this next step. A collegiate soccer and softball player, and elementary school teacher, she has the right experience, temperament and outlook to take this step in our program. Assisted by Coach Sheila, we are looking forward to a tremendous season and "future" with this group.
Brianna Schryver, 10u. This is Brianna's 3rd year with the Viper Organization and has been coaching the 10U level since 1974. Brianna played club softball for the Rockland County Stix from 12-18 years old. She was a 4 year varsity starter for Spring Valley High School, where she played third base and pitcher. She earned All League and All County honors, as well as the Rockland Journal News Scholar Athlete of the Week. After high school, Brianna was recruited by St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY. She was a 4-year starter and 2 year captain for the Spartans. Brianna is a member of the STAC 100 Hit Club for achieving over 120 hits throughout her collegiate softball career and was also recognized as a member of STAC’s All Decade Team for the 2000s. After college, Brianna went on to coach both JV and Varsity teams for Spring Valley High School. She also coached both 12U & 14U teams for the Rockland Thunder, where she won several tournaments and qualified for and participated in National Tournaments. Please do not miss Bri's "Crossing Over" ceremony to 12u in June, 2024.
Nick Franolic: 12U. Coach Nick is a second year head coach and is in his third year in the organization. He was a student-athlete at William Paterson University, where he played baseball and earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Today, Nick serves as a law enforcement officer with over 20 years of experience, which includes training members of his department and instructing at the county police academy. He resides in Park Ridge and is the Co-Commissioner of the Park Ridge Athletic Association Softball Program and a Board of Trustee member for the Park Ridge Athletic Association. His daughter Sofia has been apart of the organization since she was 10.
Mike Stankowitz, Christie Radoian, Bill Allen Bio to follow .
Dawn "The Great" Fantini Bio to follow
Gregg Schanck enters his 5th season with the Vipers and 4th as a Head Coach. Gregg played 4 years of Baseball at SUNY Oneonta, is the past President of Norwood Softball and will be entering the Oneonta Hall of Fame in 2024. Coach Gregg still tries to live through his prime playing days by playing in a 40+ baseball league & co-ed softball league.
Jordan Flavell-Boney enters her 2nd year with the NJ Vipers. JFB was a 4 year varsity player at Northern Valley Old Tappan High School, playing centerfield and also played four years at Dominican College (now Dominican University.) JFB has been coaching at the club level for 4 years and her teams are always improving, competing but more importantly, love the game. JFB has also been the Northvale Recreation Softball Commissioner for the past 12 years. Her f/t job is as an Occupational Therapist. She will be assisted by Shawn Cowley, who has been coaching with JFB at the club level for the last four years.
Jim Gilligan enters his 6th year with the Vipers and his fifth year as a Head Coach. We started preparing Jim for this role at 10U many years ago. Jim has seamlessly stepped in as a Head Coach since day 1 and does an amazing job.
Jim has been a leader in the Dumont travel softball program and travel teams, so his competitive and teaching styles blend in perfectly with the Vipers.
He fully understands the level, our philosophy and program...the kids & parents adore him.
Jim is assisted by Coach Dino Eliopoulos, Coach Dino is a professional High School Coach who has won league championships and competed deep into state tournaments with Midland Park High School. Dino recently ascended to the AD role at Palisades Park HS. Our girls and we are so fortunate to have him. This tandem is awesome. The girls love them and so do we!
Joe Savino enters his 3rd year of coaching in the Vipers organization, 2nd as a Head Coach. Joe is a former President of Old Tappan Softball and served on the Old Tappan Baseball and Softball Association for 8 years. Joe attended high school at Northern Valley Old Tappan where he played football and baseball, earning All-County honors in baseball. He later played football at the University at Albany where he was quarterback and captain and later inducted into the University's Athletic Hall of Fame. Joe is assisted by Steve Lappetito and John Newell.
Jerry Mercadante. Jerry enters his 10th year with the Vipers and is our Commissioner for the 12U-16u levels. Jerry is also the 18u Black Head Coach. Jerry is an established, professional, winning coach and knows the Viper way of doing things, having coached the Vipers from 12u through 18u Premier. Jerry had two daughters play for the Vipers and his youngest, Emma is currently playing for Immaculata University. Jerry is a teacher at Manchester HS, graduated from N Highlands and played baseball at Rutgers University. His two older daughters, Leah and Madison are getting married in 2024.
Our Head Coach for our 18U Premier team is Steve Olshalsky
Steve has been a leader in the Ramsey Softball Organization, played baseball at WPU & coached softball at the college level. Steve has been with this core group and is entering his 6thth season with the Vipers. He has done and does an exemplary job. Both his daughters Kacey and Julianna play in the program.
Commissioners:
12u-16U: Jerry Mercadante. Jerry enters his 10th year with the Vipers and is our Commissioner for the 12U-16u levels. Jerry is also the 18u Black Head Coach. Jerry is an established, professional, winning coach and knows the Viper way of doing things, having coached the Vipers from 12u through 18u Premier. Jerry had two daughters play for the Vipers and his youngest, Emma is currently playing for Immaculata University. Jerry is a teacher at Manchester HS, graduated from N Highlands and played baseball at Rutgers University. His two older daughters, Leah and Madison are getting married in 2024.
Entry Level/ Development & 10U: Sheila Serafin. Sheila is entering her 7th year with the Vipers. Sheila has taken a step back from the sidelines again this year and is overseeing our entry level/ training program for 3/4th graders, as well as becoming the Commissioner for 10U. She jumps in and assists as needed, coaching various levels up to and including our showcase teams. Having coached every Viper level from 12u-18U showcase, she will again make sure that the 10U level is preparing for not just the 10u season, but for the 12u level they will see in the fall, 2024. Sheila is the escalation point for all parents, coaches and players at the Futures and 10u levels.
Carley Santangelo. Currently a senior at Montclair State & since her time playing softball came to an end, Carley still has a lasting passion for the game and coaching. Carley spent her childhood playing for Ridgewood Softball as a catcher and second baseman for the Ridgewood High School team. Over the past 3 years, she's been very involved in the Ridgewood Softball Association coaching 12u and 14u teams. She is now very excited to start another journey within the Vipers organization to share her knowledge of the game and grow as a coach. Carley is primarily working with our Futures level
Laura Germano. LG has changed her role up this year so she can balance Vipers and her HS coaching duties. Laura is in her 8th year coaching with the Vipers and has coached 10u through 18u showcase teams. This season she is focusing o the first year 12u level, to assist coaches Mike, Bill and Christie in their transition to what we believe is the biggest jump in a kids career. Laura is a former All County/ All State Soccer, Basketball and Softball player, and started 4 years at shortstop at Ramapo College.
Victoria Villanueva, 12u RWB.
Victoria Villanueva, also known as Coach Vicky or "Vicky Vails", she is starting her first season as an assistant for the RWB 12u team of the Vipers. From the ages of 12 to 18, Victoria actively participated in club softball. She had an impressive high school career as a first baseman and catcher, serving as a 4-year varsity starter and captain at Bergen Technical High School. Her outstanding performance earned her both All League and All County honors. Currently, Coach Vicky is coaching the River Dell JV team.
Jess Regonesi & Meg Weis
The NJ Vipers are proud to announce the hiring of Meg Weis, a founding member & Viper Class of ‘19, and Jess Ragonesi, 16u State Champion and Viper Class of 2018, as coaches for the 2024 season.
Meg is a 2019 graduate of NV/OT High School where she was an All-County player and won both State Sectional and County Championships. She is a 2023 graduate of Stonehill College, where she played softball all four years while majoring in Education. She is currently an elementary school teacher in Closter.
Jess is a 2018 graduate of Tappan Zee High School where she was a team leader and won several league titles while amassing post season honors. Jess played four years for the Vipers, helping us win the 16u USSSA State Championship in 2016. Jess had an opportunity to play softball at Sacred Heart University but was unable due to injury. Jess is a 2022 graduate of STAC, has her own Fitness enterprise and working towards her Radiologist degree.