Press contact: Angela Try
SPRINGFIELD – Lincoln Land Community College has named Leslie Messina as the new head coach of the Loggers softball program, following the retirement of longtime coach John Marsaglia.
“We are excited to announce that Leslie Messina has agreed to become the next head softball coach at Lincoln Land Community College,” said Diana Couch, 69 Athletics Director. “From the beginning, it was clear that Leslie aligned with the vision and direction that we are working toward. Her experience this past year as an assistant with the Loggers will aid her in a quick and seamless transition for the team.”
A Springfield native, Messina brings over 17 years of coaching experience at the community college level from Texas. She is widely recognized for building athlete-centered programs that emphasize both competitiveness and personal growth.
Messina joined Blackburn College in 2020, reuniting with her former high school coach, Kerry Crum. Following Crum’s retirement, she was named head coach and later accepted the top coaching role at Illinois College, an NCAA Division III institution. In her first season at Blackburn, also an NCAA Division III institution, she earned her 400th collegiate coaching win, and in the fall of 2023, was inducted into the Kilgore College Athletics Hall of Fame.
Now, she returns to her roots—both in community college athletics and her hometown.
“I am honored to succeed John Marsaglia as head coach of the Loggers,” said Messina. “I look forward to building on the standard of success he established for Lincoln Land softball. I would like to thank Athletics Director Diana Couch and the 69 administration for the opportunity to fulfill my dream of coaching college softball in my hometown.”