Lesa Bonee', Head Coach
(954) 262-8258
lbonee@nova.edu
Lesa Boneé enters her eighth season at the helm of the Nova Southeastern University softball team. Boneé has a 411-298-1 overall record in 13 seasons and is 229-170-1 at NSU. In her career, Boneé s programs have produced 23 All-Conference, 12 All-Region and two All-America selections. The 2009 season was NSU's most successful under Boneé as her squad earned a 49-15 overall record, 16-8 in the Sunshine State Conference, and advanced into the NCAA South Region-2 Championship Game. The Sharks post season run was the programs best showing in an NCAA tournament. During the season, Boneé's team went on six different five game winning streaks. The Sharks received national attention, making an appearance at the second spot in the NFCA Division II Poll. They finished the year ranked 18th in the nation.
By the end of the year the team was recognized with four All-Conference and three All-Region awards. Lauren Lopez, April Donachie, and Dana Bergner all walked away with All-South Region second team and All-SSC second team honors. Rachel Talenfeld rounded out the award winners with All-SSC first team honors.
In 2008, NSU posted its second best season under Boneé, going 43-20 overall and 12-9 in the SSC. In March, the Sharks put together a 13-game winning streak, the longest for the program since NSU won 17 straight in 2001. The season concluded with senior Ashley Baker and sophomore Noemi Luciani becoming the first duo to earn All-SSC First-Team honors. Baker was also tabbed National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second-Team All-Region, while freshmen Rachel Talenfeld and Lexi Sarradet earned Daktronics, Inc. Second-Team All-Region accolades.
Boneé led NSU to a 33-30 overall record and a 10-14 SSC record in 2007. Boneé collected her 300th career win on Mar. 10, 2007 as the Sharks defeated Mars Hill 8-3 in Bradenton, Fla. Meanwhile, senior Katie Veltri s magical season resulted in several new program records as well as a NFCA First-Team All-America selection, the first in program history. The 2006 Sharks started the season on a roll, capturing wins in their first four home games. Boneé went on to guide NSU through a tough regional and conference schedule that included contests against top NCAA Division II opponents, including No. 19 Alabama-Huntsville and No. 2 Florida Southern.
Boneé guided the Sharks to a 25-29 mark during the 2005 season after facing one of the toughest schedules in program history. In its first season of eligible competition in the Sunshine State Conference, NSU finished with a 9-15 mark, tied with two other institutions for sixth in the league.
During 2004, her second season with the Sharks, Boneé guided her squad to a 32-26-1 record, earning the team s first NCAA Division II South Region Top-10 ranking since becoming members of the NCAA Division II in 2002.
In 2003, Boneé led a squad of only nine players for three quarters of the season to a 25-22 record during the first year of NCAA competition. The Sharks played nine nationally ranked teams and lost a total of 10 games by only one run.
Boneé arrived at NSU after serving three seasons as head coach at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She guided the Riverwomen to a 90-67 overall mark. Her 2001 squad fashioned a 16-game winning streak, knocking off two top-20 and four regionally ranked opponents.
Prior to that, Boneé was the head softball coach at Southern Wesleyan. In three seasons, she led the Warriors to a 92-61 record, a Southeast Regional semifinal appearance and the Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference Tournament Championship in 1999.
Aside from the collegiate level, Boneé has coaching experience at both the professional and high school levels. Boneé, a member of the NFCA, was an assistant coach for the Carolina Diamonds women s professional fastpitch softball team in Gastonia, North Carolina, from 1997 to 1998. She was varsity head softball coach for Venice High School (Fla.) in 1995 and 1996, leading them to regional and district championships in 1995.
She has served as the Great Lakes Valley Conference chair and frequently speaks at camps and clinics nationally. Boneé also has been a clinician for the NFCA, Higher Ground, the Ohio High School Coaches Association and UCLA.
Boneé holds a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Middle Tennessee State and a master of arts degree in educational leadership from the University of Sarasota.
