Craig Montividas to manage Italian Women's Softball National Team
The Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS) appointed Craig Montvidas as the Women's Softball National Team head coach. He succeeds Alessandro Pizzolini.
"Craig has much softball experience and knowledge," commented FIBS President Marco Mazzieri. "I'm sure he will bring a fresh vision and new energy."
Montvidas has served under Mazzieri in the WBSC Coach Commission.
"He will inspire and motivate our athletes," Mazzieri added. "I'm confident he will create an inclusive and positive environment."
Mazzieri thanked Pizzolini for leading Italy to a pair of European titles and to No. 7 in WBSC Women's Softball World Ranking.
Born in 1950 in Caldwell, New Jersey, USA, Montividas moved to the Netherlands in 1975 to play baseball.
"I thought I travelled to live a unique experience, it turned out to be a life changer," Montividas commented.
Montvidas played for the Diemen Giants in the second division, then moved to Kinheim in the Hoofdklasse. After a three-year coaching career, he turned to softball in 1985.
Italy will be his third European National Team after Great Britain (2005-2008) and the Netherlands (2005-2008). He led the Dutch to three European Championships.
He already experienced Italy as a coach when he led Bussolengo to two Italian Softball League pennants and a European Cup between 2018 and 2019.
The first member of Montividas's staff will be pitching coach Greta Cecchetti. Born in 1989, Cecchetti was a star pitcher in the United States (Texas A&M, Athletes Unlimited), Japan (Kyoto Galaxy Stars of the Diamond League), and Europe. She is the all-time strikeout leader in the Italian Softball League, where she broke the 2,000 milestone in 2024. She also played for Haarlem of the Dutch Hoofdklasse. Cecchetti represented Italy 95 times, including at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
"It's an honour," she said. "I can't wait to start this new chapter. I will represent Italy as a coach with the same passion, commitment and dedication I had as a player."