Passionate intense, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, positive, and determined are just a few adjectives that describe
Bridgette Quimpo, the former collegiate star at the University of South Carolina Aiken, who begins her 11th season as head softball coach at New Jersey City University in 2013-14. She is the all-time winningest coach in the 34-year history of the softball program with 125 victories.
Quimpo was hired as the 12th head softball coach in NJCU history on May 31, 2003, and was promoted to full-time status on July 1, 2004. She first joined the coaching staff as an assistant on April 10, 2003 for the final 22 games of the season. Quimpo was introduced to NJCU by her younger sister, Bianca Quimpo, a two-time Second-Team All-NJAC pick at second base as a freshman and sophomore for the Gothic Knights in 2001 and 2002.
In addition to her coaching duties,
Quimpo serves as an Athletic Academic Advisor for the baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s golf, softball and men’s and women’s volleyball teams. A member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), she currently is serving a term as a member of the NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional Committee.
During her tenure,
Quimpo has worked to instill discipline and a hard work ethic while competing in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, considered the nation’s top softball conference in Division III.
She won her 100
th career game on March 9, 2011—a 15-14 win over Bridgewater State University and the longest game played in school history (10 innings).
On April 20, 2013 when the Gothic Knights upset #20 ranked The College of New Jersey, NJCU secured its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent in school history.
Earlier in her tenure as coach,
Quimpo led NJCU to its first ever Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship in 2004, before repeating as WIAC titlists in 2005, its last year as a league.
In her first 10 seasons as head coach
Quimpo has developed two All-East Region players who have combined for three All-Region awards (Megan Ginter, 2011-12; Rebecca Satz, 2012) while
Satz was the 2010 NJAC and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Year. In all, her players have combined for 10 All-NJAC awards, including five First-Team selections (Marissa Bariso, 2011; Ginter, 2011 and 2012; Satz, 2010 and 2012). Four other players were named to the All-Independent Team in 2005 and she generated eight All-WIAC selections from 2004-05, including six first teamers.
As an Athletic Academic Advisor,
Quimpo monitors the academic progress of student-athletes in her designated sportd, helping student-athletes achieve their academic goals through class registration, progress evaluations, and advisement on a one-on-one basis, serving as an “academic coach” while working as a liaison between athletics and academics.
An August 2001 graduate of South Carolina-Aiken with a bachelor of arts in Psychology,
Quimpo came to NJCU from Carteret High School, where she served as the assistant coach of the softball and basketball teams in 2002 and 2003. She played an important role in guiding the Ramblers to the 2002 Central Jersey Group II state sectional championship in softball, and the 2002-2003 basketball team to the Greater Middlesex Conference title.
Quimpo was also an assistant coach for Team New Jersey and the New Jersey Breakers. Both teams are nationally prominent for their softball programs featuring some of the best players in the country. With Team New Jersey,
Quimpo worked alongside legendary pitching instructor Ernie Parker, a well-known mentor to such Olympians as Lisa Fernandez and Rob Crews, the CEO of Complete Game and Frozen Ropes’ National Fastpitch Hitting Director.
In January, 2007,
Quimpo was a featured speaker at the Big Apple Baseball and Softball Coaches Convention. In 2009, she spoke at the National Fastpitch Coaches Convention and has been a guest speaker for various events. Along with speaking engagements,
Quimpo is also a national clinician instructing in clinics across the country that include United States Olympic Coach Ken Eriksen; U.S. Olympians Stacey Nuveman, Jessica Mendoza, Cat Osterman, Lauren Lappin, Natasha Watley, Lovie Jung, Monica Abbott and Vicky Galindo; and numerous NCAA Division I college coaches and professional athletes. She has worked camps with the University of Alabama, University of South Florida and Louisiana State University. Active in the professional fastpitch circuit, she has made an impact training some of the top high school athletes in the country featuring players that went on to play at such prominent Division I programs as Alabama, Tennessee, and Stanford.
As an active player in the Amateur Softball Association Women’s Major Fast Pitch League,
Quimpo was an ASA National Champion in 2003 with the NJ Divas and a two-time ASA 1
St Team All-American as a catcher (2004, 2006). She was also selected to the prestigious Topton All-Tournament Team and earned a tryout for the U.S. Olympic Team in 2002 for the 2004 games.
Quimpo previously was a catcher for the New Jersey Breakers.
In a four-year career for South Carolina-Aiken from 1998-2001 under coach Jerry Snyder,
Quimpo was a force to be reckoned with. She was named team MVP as a senior in 2001, and Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the Big Blue Classic Tournament after finishing the season with a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate. At catcher, she led the Peach Belt Conference in fewest steals allowed and was the Pacers’ leader in RBIs in three consecutive years (1999-2001). In 2011, she was named to the USCA’s Softball All-Decade Team (2000-10).
A June 1997 graduate of Carteret High School,
Quimpo was inducted into Carteret’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Known as one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Carteret High, she earned 12 letters in four years as a three-sport varsity standout in tennis, basketball, and softball. During her senior year, she was honored with the prestigious Benjamin Zusman Award—presented to a Carteret senior for sportsmanship and athletic ability.
In softball, she was selected Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year in the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division, as the Ramblers won three straight division championships from 1995-97, and claimed the 1996 Central Jersey Group II state sectional crown.
Quimpo was chosen to the All-Division, All-Conference, and All-Middlesex County teams, and named All-Area Honorable Mention. In tennis, she was team MVP in 1995 and 1996, while earning All-Division and All-Conference accolades. She secured Most Outstanding Player and All-Division distinction in basketball.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from amazing coaches, teammates, and former players I have coached and continue to learn from”, says
Quimpo. “I have been surrounded by positive family and friends who have inspired me in many ways. All these people have helped build my foundation and coaching philosophy. That is, to teach the game with the lessons of life and guide my student-athletes to become successful individuals both on and off the field so when they graduate, they will leave the program a better person and athlete so they grow up to be positive role models in the world.”
Born October 19, 1979,
Coach Quimpo resides in Bayonne, NJ.
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COACH QUIMPO’S PHILOSOPHY
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"A coach is someone who tells you what you don't want to hear,
who has you see what you don't want to see,
so you can be who you have always known you can be."
The Master Coach's Many Roles: She is a coach but ALWAYS a student. Knowledgeable. Respectful and Respected. Strives to be the best to get herself and her players/team 1% better every day as students, athletes, and as people. Is accountable and takes responsibility for her team. Encompasses passion, intensity, and enthusiasm. Creates a positive atmosphere while inspiring and encouraging those she’s surrounded by. A teacher, mentor, developer, manager, disciplinarian, motivator, counselor and psychiatrist. A role model, a leader, life coach, and friend. Possesses great morals while maintaining character and integrity. Exceptional communication and people skills. But above all, SHE CARES!
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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
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“Coach Quimpo is more than just a coach—she is a mentor, an academic advisor, a counselor, role model and most importantly now a friend. I have watched Coach change the lives of many people and I am a better person because of her. Anybody who crosses paths with her is truly blessed because if you allow her, she will show you a higher meaning of life the best way she can.” — Christen Hall, `10 (2007-2009, B.S. in Criminal Justice)
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“The program that Coach Quimpo built is like a factory for building great people, good softball players, responsible adults and a network of family that no one else in this world can feel or be a part of. When you leave her program after four years you are prepared for all (good and bad) that life has to offer and you leave knowing that she will always be a permanent support in your life.” — Assistant Coach Susie Matsutani, `08 (2004-2008, B.A. in Biology)
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“Coach is the definition of a great person. She has taught me so much about softball when I thought I already knew it all. More importantly is the life lessons I learned from her. She definitely has a huge impact on my life and I wouldn’t be who I am today without her. Making me a better player was a small piece of it, making me a better person was the whole picture.”
— Lacey Skowronski, `09 (2007-2009, B.S. in Economics)
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“Coach's love and passion for the game is reflected on all her players. Not only do we learn the physical and mental game from her but we also learn about ourselves. I will leave this program with drive, passion, and determination that I can do anything” — Alexandra DiIorio, `11 (2008-2011, B.A. in Business Management)
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“Every day is hard work with Coach Quimpo. Softball is a passion she loves to share with each of her players and having that passion saved my life. Any coach could pick out great athletes, but Coach Quimpo is the best at picking great people for our program. She loves every player no matter what skill level and builds a home away from home bringing something new to the table every day to strengthen our family and prepare us for our future” — Jordan Potter (2008-11, Psychology)
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“Coach Quimpo is one of the most optimistic, patient, dedicated, and hard-working coaches I've come across throughout my entire softball career. Softball programs nationwide should use her as a model. I am appreciative for all the lessons I've attained under Coach Quimpo and will be forever humbled.” — Ayana Abdul-Raheem (2003-04, Special Education)
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“Coach Bridgette is one of the hardest working, most dedicated coaches I have ever played for. She has the ability to bring out the best in a player. When you play for her, you want to give 100% of your effort because that is what she gives. She believes in you and makes you believe in yourself. It is because of her understanding of the game, her patience, and willingness to help me succeed, that has allowed me to become the player I am today.” — Lauren Gibson (University of Tennessee softball player, 2009-13; NFCA First-Team All-American and U.S. National Team member)
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“When I first met Bridgette, I saw her as an enthusiastic coach who was constantly trying to get her team better with a relentless passion. But, what I started to realize the more I was around her was that she was not just increasing the physical abilities of her softball team, but she was also continuously impacting their lives and making them see the better person they could become. By doing this, she wasn't just 'Coach' to her players during the short confines of a season, she instead became a lifelong coach and friend to anyone who was fortunate enough to cross her path.” — Cassie Reilly-Boccia (University of Alabama softball player, 2008-12; 2012 NCAA Division I National Champions)
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“Bridgette Quimpo is the most inspirational coach I’ve ever worked with. She’s positive and encouraging and she pushed me harder than anyone I know. She not only made me a better athlete physically, but mentally and the mental strength she helped me find has been more valuable than ever imagined” — Courtney Liddle (Virginia Tech softball player, 2009-13; First-Team All-ACC and National Pro Fastpitch player)
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