Sam Van Dorn joined the Plattsburgh State softball coaching staff as an assistant softball in 2020. The Cardinals' 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Van Dorn concluded an illustrious softball career as a student-athlete at SUNY Cortland in 2019. As a senior at Cortland, Van Dorn appeared in 25 games (24 starts) with a 14-8 record, a 1.74 ERA, one no-hitter, seven shutouts and one save. She limited the opposition to 149 hits and 29 walks, while striking out 79 batters in 157 1/3 innings.
A National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Northeast Region First Team honoree and the SUNYAC Pitcher of the Year in 2019, Van Dorn finished her four-year Cortland career tied for first at the school with 11 career saves, seventh in strikeouts (247), tied for seventh in shutouts (11) and eighth in wins (45). In addition, she was named to the All-Tournament Team as she helped Cortland to the 2019 SUNYAC title. In 2018, Van Dorn was named to the SUNYAC Softball All-Conference Team, the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team and the NFCA All-Northeast Region Third Team. In 2017, she garnered SUNYAC Tournament MVP honors.
Van Dorn's coaching experience includes having been an assistant coach with Smithtown Little League Softball and an assistant coach with the Long Island Diamonds, a travel softball team. While coaching as part of Smithtown Little League Softball, she worked on improving players' offensive and defensive abilities, organized and led practices and designed drills. Van Dorn has also been a softball skills instructor, having worked with softball players ages 8-18 on fielding, hitting and pitching.
Van Dorn earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education from SUNY Cortland in 2019.
