CANTON —  Kelsy Waite of Winthrop has been named the next head coach of the SUNY Canton softball program, as announced on Tuesday, August 20.

Waite spent the past season as the assistant softball coach at SUNY Potsdam. She helped lead the Bears to sweeps of fellow SUNYAC schools Plattsburgh State and Brockport and splits with local schools like Clarkson, St. Lawrence and Oswego State during the 2024 season. Prior to coaching at Potsdam, she was a four-year member of the Plattsburgh State softball program playing first base.

"Kelsy is very familiar with the SUNYAC having spent five seasons combined as a player and coach at Plattsburgh and Potsdam," Athletic Director Randy Sieminski said. "We look forward to her using these experiences to help elevate our softball program to a new level as we enter the SUNYAC for our first season in spring 2025."

After her first season at Plattsburgh was canceled due to the COVID pandemic, Waite suited up three seasons for the Cardinals appearing in 52 games with 33 hits, 15 runs, 19 walks and 23 RBI. She finished her career with a .366 on-base percentage. During her senior season she helped lead the Cardinals to their first sweep of Cortland since 2006 as she recorded a walk-off single and walk-off sacrifice fly to secure the sweep. Waite also appeared on the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll multiple times.

"I would like to thank Randy Sieminski and the rest of search committee for trusting me to be the next head softball coach at SUNY Canton," Waite said. "Having spent my whole collegiate coaching and playing career in the SUNYAC and North Country, taking the helm of the Roos softball program excites me. I am looking forward to hitting the ground running with the returning student-athletes and new recruits as we look to make a successful transition to SUNYAC softball."

 Waite is a native of Winthrop, NY where she was a three-sport athlete competing in softball, soccer and basketball at St. Lawrence Central. She was named First Team All-Northern in softball. Waite graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a bachelor's degree in Fitness and Wellness Leadership.