Melissa Finley took the reins of Colgate Softball in August 2012 and wrapped up her fifth season in 2017.
During her time at Colgate, Finley has coached seven athletes to All-Patriot League status. The Raiders have made a pair of Patriot League Tournament appearances during Finley’s tenure in 2013 and 2015. She coached Colgate to its first Patriot League Tournament victory in four years during the 2015 season.
Finley has mentored three Academic All-Patriot League squad members and several NFCA Scholar-Athletes throughout her tenure. Finley’s five-year record stands at 71-142-1 overall and 33-59 in Patriot League play. The London, Ontario native also servedas a member of the Canadian Women’s National Team staff in the summer of 2017.
“I strive to have a competitive program where my student-athletes excel in the classroom and on the softball field,” Finley said.
Finley arrived in Hamilton after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at Penn, serving as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Penn won the 2012 Ivy League South Division title as her first recruiting class led the way for the Quakers.
Finley managed the on-field practice planning and instruction for outfield, hitting and pitching, and also was the director of the team’s softball camps. During her tenure in Philadelphia, she earned her certificate in marketing at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in 2010.
As a student-athlete, Finley was a four-year All-Ivy League performer at Princeton and graduated in 2005 as the program’s home run leader for both a season and career. She connected for 14 round-trippers during her sophomore campaign of 2003, when she was named Ivy League Player of the Year.
Those 14 homers remain the Princeton record, and she finished with 37 career bombs while leading the Tigers to three Ivy League titles. Finley still ranks among Princeton's career top-10 in 11 different offensive categories, but showed her versatility by also pitching her way to a 22-20 career mark in the circle.
Finley was a member of the Canadian National Softball Team and played in the 2003 Pan Am Games, the 2003 and 2004 Canada Cup, the 2003 U.S. Cup, and the 2005 International Sports Invitational.
Get to Know 'Gate Athletics -- Melissa Finley
“Melissa truly understands the commitment it takes to excel both in the classroom and on the field at the highest level. Her competitive drive for academic and athletics excellence makes her a great role model for our student-athletes.” -- Victoria M. Chun, Vice President and Director of Athletics (Colgate '91, MA '94)
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- Influential Person in My Career: Coach Maureen Barron, who coached me at Princeton.
- An Idea or Invention I Wish I Had Thought of: Any one of the social media apps.
- What I Like About My Job: I have two favorite things. Getting to work with and mentor my student-athletes on a daily basis – they always make laugh. And being able to give to young women across the country the opportunity to attend a first-class academic institution while playing Division I softball.
- What I Like About Competing: Winning.
- What I Would Like to Change: Slow down the recruiting process so that young student-athletes have the opportunity to make the best decision for their future.
- What I Like That Would Surprise Those Who Know Me: Foie Gras.
- What I Like About Myself: That I was smart enough to follow my passion – I love getting up and coming to work every day.
Miscellaneous Favorites
- Heroes: I have many. My family, my teammates and my former and current student-athletes.
- Possession: Memories.
- Memento: Record-breaking home run ball signed by some fans – always reminds me that being a part of a collegiate team means being a part of something bigger than yourself and the pride associated with that.
- Magazines, Hardcopy or Online: Food & Wine, Bon Appétit.
- Gadget: Apple TV.
- App: Pinterest.
- Music: Zac Brown Band.
- Books: Sum it Up by Pat Summitt, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and Bossypants by Tina Fey.
- Food: All of it – just really enjoy tasty and unique food. I would say one of my favorites to make is Sea Bass and Artichokes.
- Movies: Anything that makes me laugh.
- Quote: I’m not a big quote person but when my seventh-grade teacher told me “I could only achieve what I believed,” I took it to heart and remember it to this day.
