Presbyterian softball adds Bella Ligotti to coaching staff

Presbyterian College softball coach David Williams announced the hiring of assistant coach Bella Ligotti on Tuesday afternoon.

Ligotti spent three seasons in the Big South as a player at Gardner-Webb before transferring to Nova Southeastern, where she played her senior season in 2026.

“We are very excited about the addition of Coach Ligotti,” Williams said. “We look forward to the contributions that Bella will make to our program as we look to build off a successful 2025 season.”

Williams has led the Blue Hose since 2019 and has 495 career wins, 159 of them at Presbyterian.

Presbyterian returned to the Big South Tournament last spring after winning five of its final eight regular season conference games. The Blue Hose bring back four All-Big South honorees, including three first-team selections.

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN (2026)

• Ligotti closed her playing career in her home state of Florida, helping Nova Southeastern win 30 games and post 16 wins in the Division II Sunshine State Conference.
• She made 19 starts for the Sharks and collected five hits across the final two series of the season, against Florida Southern and Lynn.
• Counting her three seasons at Gardner-Webb, Ligotti finished her career with 85 games played, 56 starts, a .205 batting average, 19 runs, 30 hits, four doubles, six home runs, 25 RBIs and 16 walks.

GARDNER-WEBB (2023-25)

• Ligotti appeared in 65 games over three seasons at Gardner-Webb. She recorded her first collegiate hit in a win over Detroit Mercy and her first two RBIs in a victory over North Carolina Central as a freshman.
• Her sophomore season was her most productive. She batted .273 with five extra-base hits and a .606 slugging percentage, and the Runnin’ Bulldogs won 33 games that year, including a 7-4 win over Indiana.
• She hit her first collegiate home run against North Carolina Central in 2024 and later added two doubles and three RBIs in a win over Wofford.
• Her best individual game came as a junior in 2025, a win over Iona in which she hit two home runs and drove in five runs. She hit her final collegiate home run at Western Carolina later that season.

PREP CAREER

• A native of Hollywood, Florida, Ligotti attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School and earned all-state honors as a senior.
• She batted .316 over her high school career, including .323 as a senior, with 17 RBIs, 24 runs and a .414 on-base percentage. She also made the honor roll in each of her final three seasons.

EDUCATION

• Ligotti graduated from Nova Southeastern University in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree and a minor in exercise science.
• During her playing career, she also coached at the American Heritage Softball Camp in Plantation, Florida.