Bronzi: My Father Made Me The Coach I Am

When asked who has had the biggest influence on her coaching career, Yorktown softball coach Becky Bronzi doesn't flinch to give an answer, immediately saying that it was her father, Willy Melikian.    

Bronzi started playing softball for the Yorktown Athletic Club in first grade, before going on to the Shrub Oak Athletic Club. Her dad, who passed away on March 2009 of lung cancer, was her coach all year round. 

"Our summer team was called the Westchester Bombers which consisted of players all around Westchester," Bronzi said. "We were a very competitive team and had a lot of fun times."   

Those memories remain vivid for Bronzi as she misses her father very much. She describes him as her biggest fan.

"Not having him around anymore is very hard for me," Bronzi said. "He would come to all of my games and be the loudest one in the stands. I would also talk to him after the games and ask for his advice on what I can improve on. He was so supportive of me and was truly a great man."   

In addition to being a coach, Bronzi is a physical education teacher at Yorktown High School. Her first high school coaching experience was with the Yorktown JV softball squad in 2006.  Then, the she coached the varsity to sectional crowns in 2007 and 2008. Last season and this, she guided Yorktown to a spot in the sectionals. (Yorktown lost to Clarkstown North, 5-2, on Friday)  

Before the playoffs began, Bronzi said this about her coaching style:

"I try my best to balance being tough and compassionate with my players," she said. "The girls definitely know when it's time to have fun and when it's time to be serious. I think having fun is a big part of success, and that is also something my father taught me."   

But what brings her to the field everyday is the athletes.

"I have a great group of players this year, so seeing them every day makes coaching incredible for me," Bronzi said. "My assistant coach [Eric Agosta] and I are also good friends. Having his support and help in the decision making is also key."   

In addition to coaching softball in the spring, she also coaches field hockey at Yorktown in the fall.

Bronzi is a 2001 graduate of Lakeland High School. She said she learned to play field hockey from her Lakeland coach Sharon Sarsen.   

"As a high school athlete, Becky would work extremely hard and was a player that would always show up to play in a big game," Sarsen said. "Although field hockey was not her No. 1 sport in high school, she was a top competitor.  Becky was a prolific scorer in high school playing offensive center mid. She had an amazing shot and loved to score."   

Sarsen feels Bronzi has become a good coach because of her ability to connect with athletes and her knowledge about the games she coaches.   

"She has proved she is a winner," Sarsen said. "Her softball team is one of the best in the area and her field-hockey program has improved drastically since she took over the team."   

Since Lakeland is Bronzi's alma mater, it adds something extra to an already great rivalry according to Husker senior catcher and co-captain, Laura Pironi.   

"We wanted to beat Lakeland twice this year because we hadn't beaten them twice in a year in awhile and the fact that Coach Bronzi went there was just another bonus," Pironi said.   

But what's more important for Pironi, who started her sophomore year, is that she enjoys playing for her coach. 

"Coach Bronzi is always helping us on the things we need to improve on," Pironi said. "She's a great coach."   

Even Bronzi laughs at the irony of coaching at her alma mater's cross-town rivals.   

"I always tell the kids that I'm a traitor," she said. "But, it is pretty exciting to play against my old coaches [Steve Fallo and Joe Chiara] and see them every year."   

Two players that have played for Bronzi, Cassie Reilly-Boccia and Kasey O'Connor, are currently playing Division I softball at the University of Alabama and the University of Notre Dame, respectively.

"What they are doing is great," Bronzi said. "Some of the girls on my team now, have played with them and it's fun to always watch them on TV."