RCSJ Roadrunner Softball Coach Steve DePasquale to Step Down after 32 Years amassing over 900 career wins.
When a youthful Steve DePasquale received quick approval to become Gloucester County College's first softball coach in December 1995, he got to work on his new venture with lightning-fast speed.
Along with his hand-picked assistant, the late Ted Marshall, DePasquale began a recruiting effort in the College Center hallway to let all GCC students know about the team, which had been a club program the previous year.
The rest, as they say, is history.
DePasquale emerged as one of the nation's all-time finest Junior College (JUCO) coaches, amassing more than 900 career wins, two DIII national championships, 8 Region titles, and a legion of exceptional players who have proudly represented Roadrunner softball on a national level.
After his lengthy tenure of establishing the Runners' program into one of the nation's best, DePasquale is stepping away from his post. Yes, the 2026 season will be his 32nd campaign -- and his last.
But it was the memory of DePasquale receiving quick approval -- and then jumping even faster into recruiting his new players -- that made a lasting impression on former athletic director Ron Case, who hired the long-term coach.
"I have to tell you it was a lucky day when Steve walked into my office that day," commented Case, who now resides with his family in Florida. "He made a huge difference in boosting women's sports at the college.
"Right from the start, Steve showed his hard work ethic and attention to detail. He took great pride in working harder than other people and his approach led to a lot of success."
You do not need to convince Brian Rowan, current Roadrunner director of athletics, of Coach DePasquale's value to the Runners' softball program and women's athletics.
"Steve has truly been an outstanding leader on our campus and in our program," said Rowan. "His records and championships speak for themselves but beyond that he has had a massive impact on all of us by showing what a Roadrunner program can be and how to run a first-class program. All of us here are better for having been able to work with him."
DePasquale, who also was a beloved culinary teacher at GCIT for 38 years, recruited a competitive first class of players for 1996. That team included players such as second baseman Katie Ivins Fitzpatrick (Clearview), third baseman Sue Boyle (Washington Twp.), catcher Amy Cunard (Clearview), pitcher Laura Kelly (Paul VI), and outfielder Cindy Heiilig (Clearview).
DePasquale's first team that season finished with 17 wins and 13 losses, while qualifying for the Region 19 playoffs. More importantly, that squad set a solid foundation for the program's future.
"That team set a standard for our program, and quite frankly it became much easier to recruit future athletes and establish a winning experience," DePasquale noted recently.
Another Clearview standout, Mary Holden Madgey, joined the Roadrunner program the second season and later became a South Jersey coaching legend herself at Cherokee High School.
Indeed, DePasquale and assistant coaches through the years such as Marshall, Mark Enders, Bill Collins and Lynnsie Collins recruited top players from around South Jersey -- and the success followed immediately.
The Runners' first All-American was Carrie Van Artsdalen, a two-time First-Team honoree in 1999. Coach D's own daughter, Danielle DePasquale, earned All-American status in 2008. All told, the program has produced an astounding 32 All-Americans over 31 years.
DePasquale's on-field success hit national prominence with the two Division III national titles brought home by the Runners in 2011 and 2012. Top players from those teams included All-Americans Katie Trotter (2011), Caitlyn Pipolo (2011), Brianna Molino (2012), and Kristina Morgan (2012).
In recent years, DePasquale earned both his 800th and 900th career wins over Camden County College on the road. His current career record entering the 2026 season is 923-417-3.
Looking back, DePasquale is most proud of how his individual players have performed in their lives and professional careers once they graduated GCC/RCSJ.
"Each player and each team always upheld the integrity of the program," said Coach D. "And we are incredibly proud at the number of student athletes who went on to enjoy their own highly successful careers in fields such as health care, education, and coaching among others. This goes way beyond wins and losses -- our players are the true measures of our success."
Prior to becoming the Roadrunners' Head Softball Coach, DePasquale served as the varsity girls' basketball coach at Glassboro High School where his team won 2 conference championships during his 4-year stint. He also worked as an assistant coach for 9 years with the Glassboro Bulldogs Football program. Additionally, DePasquale is the founder of South Jersey Rage Youth Travel Softball Organization.
DePasquale attended Glassboro State College and Atlantic Community College, graduating with a degree in Culinary Arts. After working in two Atlantic City casinos as a culinary chef for 8 years, DePasquale was a valuable member of the GCIT culinary arts program and served for 38 years until his retirement in 2024. Coach D was elected to the Roadrunners' Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015; the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, and the NJCAA Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021.
A native of South Jersey and a graduate of Williamstown High School, DePasquale resides in Williamstown with his wife Karen and has three children, Amy, Randy and Danielle, along with four grandchildren.
