Sam Van Dorn begins her fourth season as the head softball coach at Plattsburgh State in 2024 after spending the 2020 season as an assistant coach.
In her fourth season as the head coach, Van Dorn's team finished 11-25 and 3-15 in league play. She coached a first-year all-conference selection in Sara Isaacs, as the infielder earned second-team recognition.
In her third season as head coach in 2023, Van Dorn coached the best team by win percentage since the 2012 team that advanced to the College World Series, as her team was 22-12 overall and 11-7 in conference play. Highlights of the season included a series sweep over Cortland, the first since 2006 and only the second time ever the team had swept the Red Dragons. The team also had a seven-game win streak en route to the fifth seed in the conference tournament, where the Cardinals fell in two very close playoff games. Under her watchful eye, Van Dorn also coached the best offense by batting average in program history, as the team batted .326 altogether. The Cards also boasted four all-conference selections under her tutelage as Rebecca Diller and Claire Palmer were first-team players, and Kristen Langdon and Kristina Maggiacomo were each all-conference second-team.
In her second season as head coach in 2022, Van Dorn coached the Cardinals to a 14-19 (9-9 State University of New York Athletic Conference [SUNYAC]) record and helped the team to their first conference playoff appearance since 2018. She also led the team to their first win playoff win since 2018 as well, defeating the Fredonia Blue Devils in an elimination game in the SUNYAC tourney. Van Dorn coached her first All-SUNYAC player in 2022 as Kristen Langdon was a second-team selection and also helped her pitching staff to a 3.27 ERA in 2022.
In her first season as head coach in 2021, Van Dorn guided Plattsburgh State softball to a 7-9 (6-8 SUNYAC ) record. Van Dorn earned her first career victories with a season-opening sweep of SUNY Potsdam on March 30 at Cardinal Park. The Cardinals also swept a road doubleheader against SUNY Oneonta (April 18) for the first time since April 5, 2013. Van Dorn also led the Cardinals to an 8-7 walk-off victory in game one of a home doubleheader against SUNY Cortland on April 24. It was the Cardinals' first home win over Cortland since April 15, 2013.
During the 2020 campaign, Van Dorn worked primarily with the pitchers and infielders as well as the offense.
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 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Pitcher of the Year in 2019, Van Dorn finished her four-year Cortland career tied for first at the school in career saves (11), ranked seventh in strikeouts (247), tied for seventh in shutouts (11) and ranked eighth in wins (45). In addition, she was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2019 as she helped Cortland to the SUNYAC title. In 2018 Van Dorn was named to the All-SUNYAC First 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 also 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, Van Dorn 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.
Sam Van Dorn Career Coaching Record
| Season |
School |
Record |
Pct. |
Conf./Place |
Postseason Finish/Note |
| 2021 |
Plattsburgh State |
7-9 |
.438 |
6-8/3rd (East) |
SUNYAC used East and West Divisions |
| 2022 |
Plattsburgh State |
14-19 |
.424 |
9-9/6th |
SUNYAC Tournament |
| 2023 |
Plattsburgh State |
22-12 |
.647 |
11-7/5th |
SUNYAC Tournament |
| 2024 |
Plattsburgh State |
11-25 |
.306 |
3-15/9th |
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| Overall |
Plattsburgh State |
54-65 |
.454 |
29-39 |
Two SUNYAC Tournament Appearances |
