Former Niagara head coach Puzan joins Thunderwolves' staff
SANBORN — After 29 years coaching on Monteagle Ridge, Larry Puzan is exchanging a purple-and-white jersey for the blue-and-gold.
The former Niagara University skipper will volunteer as SUNY Niagara's pitching coach for the 2025-26 season, Thunderwolves head coach Jenna Koch announced Tuesday. Puzan joins the Thunderwolves, which finished 5-26 last season, and will also host pitching clinics and camps at SUNY Niagara during the offseason.
"Larry brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, passion and a championship mindset to the Thunderwolves softball program," Koch said. "We are beyond ecstatic to welcome Coach Puzan to our family. Our program just reached new heights with Larry joining our staff. Our players will benefit and grow tremendously learning from Coach Puzan."
Puzan joins SUNY Niagara after spending 13 seasons (12 full) as Niagara's head coach, starting with a 13-9 interim finish in 2013. At the helm, Puzan recorded a 154-261 record (.371) and led the NCAA Division I Purple Eagles to 29 wins in 2024, the second-most in a single-season in program history and a record 16 wins in MAAC play.
Puzan oversaw 19 All-MAAC selections at Niagara, including two Pitcher of the Year recipients, Jennifer Sansano (2013) and co-winner Maddie Hockenbottom (2024), along with 114 MAAC All-Academic honorees. Niagara also appeared in the MAAC Softball Championship tournament three times during Puzan's tenure in 2013, 2019 and 2024.
Puzan recorded his 100th win with Niagara in a 5-4 victory over Detroit Mercy on March 7, 2020. He posted his 150th victory in a 6-4 win at Rider on April 25, 2025.
Before taking the head coaching role, Puzan was an assistant at Niagara from 1996 through the first 24 games of the 2013 season. Puzan was only in his third year on staff when Niagara clinched its lone MAAC Softball Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 1998, with Joni Sontrop leading in the circle.
"I'm excited to join the Thunderwolves family," Puzan said. "This is a great opportunity, not only to mentor our pitchers and help them grow in their skill and consistency, but also in confidence, poise and competitive edge on the mound. I hope to help foster a team culture built on hard work, respect and love for the game."
A 1986 graduate of Niagara County Community College (now known as SUNY Niagara), Puzan was a member of the baseball team under coach Tom Linhart in 1984. Since then, Puzan has pitched in men's competitive fastpitch softball throughout Western New York for over 40 years and was inducted into the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Puzan also served as the athletics director and girls' basketball coach at Niagara Catholic High School for two decades until its closure following the 2017-18 school year. Puzan also has experience in Niagara County as a youth recreation director and softball pitching instructor.
SUNY Niagara softball now has a coaching staff of former NCCC graduates consisting of Puzan, Koch, assistant coach Wendy Thompson and volunteer coach George Koch. The Thunderwolves are projected to return five of their six All-WNYAC selections from last season, including pitchers Caitlyn Hanley (team-high 43 strikeouts) and Natalie Brandel.
Founded in 1978, SUNY Niagara softball will announce its 2026 regular-season schedule at a future date.
*** Photo courtesy of Niagara University Athletics ***