Kim Broking concluded her ninth season as head coach of the Centenary University softball program in 2017.
Since arriving in Hackettstown prior to the 2009 season, Broking has transformed Centenary into a force in the Colonial States Athletic Conference, leading her squads to seven consecutive trips to the league tournament.
Broking guided Centenary to back-to-back CSAC championships in 2011 and 2012, giving the program its first-ever bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament. In 2012, the team made history by defeating Moravian 3-0 for its first NCAA Tournament victory.
During her time at the helm for the Cyclones, Broking has accumulated an overall record of 190-160 (.543), including a 146-65 (.692) mark against CSAC competition. She is a two-time CSAC Coach of the Year after earning the awards following the 2009 and 2012 seasons.
Broking played a crucial role in the development of Cara Montferrat ’13, the program’s first-ever all-American. Montferrat garnered National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association Third Team All-American honors as a freshman catcher in 2010. A four-time all-league and three-time all-region standout, Montferrat set 19 program records during her career with the Cyclones.
Under Broking’s guidance, two players (2012 – Caitlin Veverka ’13; 2010 – Montferrat) have been selected as the CSAC Player of the Year, while Meagan Madsen ’14 was named as the league’s pitcher of the year in 2012.
Overall, 43 Cyclones have earned all-conference recognition, while nine have garnered all-region accolades, including six first teamers, during Broking’s six seasons at Centenary.
In 2017, Coach Broking and the Cyclones missed the playoffs by just a handful of games, finishing with a 14-22 overall and a 12-10 CSAC record. Ashley Eisenstein '18 and Justine Stefura '20 were both named to All-CSAC Honorable Mention.
2016 was a rebuilding year for Coach Broking and the Cyclones, as they finished the year with a 9-22 overall and a 9-13 CSAC record.
In 2015 the Cyclones went on a tear, posting a 16-6 record in the CSAC and collecting themselves a 3rd place finish in the conference and a home playoff game. Freshman newcomers like shortstop Carolyn Clites and pitcher Samantha Darling made an impact right away, with Clites hitting for 3 home runs and 21 RBIs while Darling fanned 51 batters over 115.2 innings.
During the 2014 season, Broking led Centenary to its sixth-straight appearance in the CSAC Tournament after finishing fifth in the league with a 14-8 record. The Cyclones posted a 15-25 mark overall, having faced some of the top teams in the region during their non-conference slate, including four squads that reached the NCAA Tournament.
Freshman catcher Heather Passaro ’17 earned first team all-league honors, one of four Cyclones to garner all-conference recognition, continuing Centenary’s tradition excellence behind the plate during Broking’s tenure.
Centenary finished the 2013 season with a record of 20-14, marking its fifth consecutive season with at least 20 wins, as well its fifth-straight CSAC Tournament appearance. The squad also earned its first ECAC Tournament bid since 2010.
The team posted a collective batting average of .307 and finished second in the conference in slugging percentage (.457) and home runs (20). Defensively, the Cyclones led the conference in ERA with a 2.31 and were fifth in fielding percentage.
The 2012 season was highlighted by the Cyclones’ second-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Centenary defeated Moravian 3-0 during the tournament opener to earn its first-ever NCAA Tournament triumph.
Broking led Centenary to a 27-16 overall record and 19-3 mark against CSAC foes. The Cyclones earned the top seed in the CSAC Tournament and hosting rights for the first time in program history. The Cyclones raced through the tournament, going 3-0, to grab their second NCAA Tournament berth in as many seasons.
Broking earned CSAC Coach of the Year honors for the second time during her career, while Veverka was named player of the year and Madsen was selected pitcher of the year.
A total of 11 players gained all-CSAC recognition following the most successful season since Centenary joined Division III in 1999.
Broking and the Cyclones made program history during the 2011 campaign as they captured the CSAC title for the first time and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Centenary posted a 19-3 record against league competition, earning the second seed in the conference tournament. The Cyclones rallied from six runs down against top-seeded Neumann in the championship game and knocked off the Knights 12-11 for their first league crown.
Broking, who helped the team to a 29-13 overall record during the season, saw nine players earn all-league recognition, including Montferrat, who became the program’s first-ever conference player of the year, and three players gain NFCA all-region accolades for the second consecutive season.
In the classroom, the team claimed 11 individual CSAC All-Academic Team honors and two student-athletes earned CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District II Second Team accolades.
During just her second season at Centenary, Broking’s 2010 team set school records for victories (30) and conference wins (18). The Cyclones earned a bid to the ECAC South Region Tournament for the second consecutive season, where they dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to three-time defending-champion Misericordia in the opening round.
Broking mentored Montferrat, who became the program’s first-ever NFCA All-American in 2010, while also claiming CSAC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-CSAC honors. Montferrat was one of three players to gain all-region laurels, along with Veverka and pitcher Kristen Durborow ’11. Nine Cyclones were named to the all-CSAC teams.
The team had a banner year in Broking’s first season as head coach, setting then-program records for wins (27) and league victories (17). Broking led the team to just its third winning record since joining Division III prior to the 1999 season and was named CSAC Coach of the Year.
The Cyclones claimed the No. 2 seed in the CSAC Tournament and after rain cut the tournament short, Centenary was named co-runner-up along with Immaculata.
The Cyclones then earned a berth in the ECAC South Tournament for the first time in program history, where they reached the championship game after posting victories over Bethany (W. Va.) and Misericordia.
Prior to being named head coach at Centenary, Broking spent six seasons (2002-06, 2008) as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Montclair State. While on the staff at MSU, Broking was in charge of all aspects of the team’s pitching staff. She also oversaw the strength and fitness components for the program, while coordinating the team’s fundraising events for their annual spring trip. During her tenure, the team compiled a record of 207-58.
In 2008, the Red Hawks won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament after going undefeated in conference play, finishing with a record of 18-0. MSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed. Broking and the MSU coaches were named the 2008 regional coaching staff of the year, one of the top honors awarded to a staff.
In addition to her coaching experience at the college level, Broking has handled administrative duties such as coordinating student-athlete study halls, assisting with academic advisement and serving as a mentor to the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).
Broking also spent the 2007 at Centenary as an assistant coach, helping the Cyclones to a nine-victory campaign.
During her playing career, Broking was a four-year starter and letter winner for Montclair State from 1998-2001. As a senior, she batted a team-best .437 as the Red Hawks won 36 games and claimed the ECAC Division III South Region Tournament crown.
Broking set a school record with 1,048 career putouts as an infielder and tied the school standard with 145 RBI. For her career, she batted .404 with 216 hits, including 56 doubles, and 103 runs scored in 174 games. She also posted a 17-2 record as a pitcher, with a 2.91 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 173 innings.
A two-time All-NJAC First Team All-Star, Broking was selected as the 2001 MSU Outstanding Female Athlete, the 2001 ECAC South Region Tournament MVP and was named as the Dioguardi Scholarship Award winner.
Broking earned her Bachelor of Science degree in physical education (2002) and a Master of Arts degree in physical education-exercise science (2008) from Montclair State. She also holds a pair of coaching certificates from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (Certified Specialist) and the NFCA.
Broking resides in Hackettstown with her husband, Ron, and the couple’s three young children, Ryder, Bo and Grae.
