Southern New Hampshire University

Deb Robitaille was named head coach of the SNHU softball program on May 31, 2005, and since then, has steadily built the Penmen into one of the top programs in the region. Robitaille spent six years as assistant softball coach before being promoted to head coach.

Through the 2022 season, Coach Robitaille has posted a record of 418-288-1 (.592) and garnered Northeast-10 Coach of the Year honors four times (2006, 2007, 2013, 2015).  Over her tenure as head coach the Penmen have made 13 Northeast-10 Tournament appearances and earned six NCAA berths (2006, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019).

SNHU finished up the 2022 season with a 23-20-1 record, earning a bye in the Northeast-10 tournament.  The Penmen defeated Southern Connecticut 1-0 before falling to eventual NCAA East Super Region Champ Adelphi 2-0 in the semifinals.  SNHU went 7-1-1 over the final eight games of the regular season to finish with a 14-9-1 record in the Northeast-10.  Three players earned NE10 recognition including Bryn Garczynski, who was named to the second team.  Bryn is the younger sister of now SNHU assistant coach Erin Garczynski.

In 2021, the Penmen played an abbreviated conference schedule, finishing with a 13-13 record.  Despite a young roster with limited experience due to the pandemic, SNHU wound up with a 12-12 conference mark, advancing to the NE10 Divisional semifinals.  Jackie Gavin hit .362 in her final season with the Penmen.  Chloe Griffin hit .344 while also leading the pitching staff with an 8-4 record and a 2.97 ERA.   Gavin and Griffin were both named Northeast-10 first-team all-conference.

The 2020 squad opened the season in Florida and compiled a 5-5 record before the pandemic forced a premature end to the season.  

In 2019, SNHU matched the most wins in program history.  The 38-15 record included a 22-game winning streak between March 13-April 12.  The Penmen rose to as high as #13 in the NFCA Division II softball poll.  Two SNHU players were honored as first-team all-conference, including Player of the Year Erin Garczynski.   Garczynski hit .419 on the season and concluded her career at the top of many of the program's offensive categories including hits (239), doubles (43), and RBI (138).  Junior pitcher Maddy Barone was also named first-team after compiling a 20-7 record with a 1.25 ERA.  The Penmen advanced to the NCAA Division II softball tournament for the fifth time in six years and won a pair of games of Georgian Court in the regional.

The 2018 SNHU team won a program-best 38 games, advancing to the Northeast-10 semifinals and the NCAA Northeast Regionals. Senior Sarah Lavallee was named to the D2CCA All-East Region Second Team, the third time in four seasons she was named All-East Region by the D2CCA.  She finished her career with the most home runs in program history (39).   The 2018 season opened with 13 consecutive wins, including a sweep of the six games played in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 

In 2017, the Penmen returned to the Northeast-10 tournament and won a pair of games over Assumption and Pace before falling in the semi-finals in nine innings at Merrimack 2-1.  The 27-20 record marked the sixth consecutive winning season for SNHU and Coach Robitaille. 

In 2016, the Penmen made their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II East Super Regional after a 29-15 campaign. Southern New Hampshire captured its fourth-straight Northeast Division title and advanced to the Northeast-10 Conference Championship final for the third year in a row. The Penmen toppled Le Moyne College in the NCAA East 1 Regional before falling to Adelphi University in the Super Regional.

In 2015, Southern New Hampshire once again reached unprecedented heights.  The Penmen finished 35-9 overall, a program record for victories, and won its second straight Northeast-10 tournament title and third straight NE-10 Northeast Division regular-season crown.  Southern New Hampshire also advanced to the NCAA super regional for the first time.  SNHU earned its highest-ever national ranking (No. 15) and senior Ali Maloof was named a Daktronics First Team All-American, the first in the history of the program.

The 2014 season saw SNHU go  31-15 and capturing its first NE-10 tournament title in addition to its second straight NE-10 Northeast Division regular-season crown.  Making the second NCAA appearance in program history, the Penmen battled eventual regional champion LIU Post to extra innings twice before finally succumbing 7-6 in 13 innings to be eliminated.

In 2013 SNHU won a then-program record 29 games, going 29-15, while capturing the NE-10 Northeast Division title and earning the right to host the Northeast-10 Conference tournament.

The winningest coach in program history, Robitaille won her 400th game on March 26, 2022 against Pace---her 300th career game on May 2, 2017 in the Northeast-10 tournament against Assumption - the 200^th career win on April 19, 2014 against Bentley- and the 100th career victory came during a doubleheader sweep of Franklin Pierce on April 21, 2010.

Robitaille is a 1984 graduate of Manchester Memorial High School where she was a member of the girl's soccer team and collected first-team All-State honors as a senior. She also participated in the Lion's Cup All-Star game following her senior year.

The UNH-Manchester graduate served as girl's junior varsity soccer coach at Memorial High School from 1986 to 1995, before being named head girl's soccer coach at Concord High School in 1996. She spent three years at Concord and also served as goalkeeping coach at Keene State College during her final season with the Crimson Tide.

Robitaille also served as assistant women's soccer coach at the University for 15 seasons (1999-2013), helping guide the Penmen to a pair of NCAA berths.

Robitaille has also coached in the Manchester South Junior Soccer League and the U14 Granite State Travel League.