Longwood University Athletics

Cat Clifford was announced as an assistant coach for the Longwood softball team on July 7, 2025 and enters her first season on Dr. Megan Brown's staff.

Clifford comes to Longwood after two seasons as an assistant coach at FGCU. She also spent eight seasons on staff at Manhattan, including her final two (2022-23) as head coach.

Clifford helped FGCU to 67 victories in her time at the Fort Myers, Fla., school, including a 38-21 (.644) mark in 2024. The Eagles captured the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament title that season, advancing to  fight the NCAA Gainesville Regional.

In two years as the defensive coordinator at FGCU, she led one of the the most tested defenses in the league with over 1,700 chances per season. In 2025, the Eagles increased their fielding percentage to .963 from .957 the year prior. In both of Clifford's seasons, FGCU was ranked in the top three in double plays turned in the ASUN, tying for the league lead with 28 in 2025.

"I am thrilled to join the Longwood softball family," said Clifford. "The values of the department and program align well with my coaching style and philosophies. I am eager to make an impact on our student-athletes while striving for excellence both in the Big South and on the national stage. Thank you to Coach Brown, athletics director Tim Hall and the entire Lancers community for the opportunity to represent Longwood."

Under Clifford's tutelage, FGCU was in the top two in the ASUN in both stolen base percentage (.653 in 2024 and .733 in 2025) and fewest stolen bases allowed (29 in 2024; 28 in 2025).

At Manhattan, Clifford and the Jaspers were 141-118 (.544) overall, including posting a 62-48 (.564) record during MAAC play. In 2016, Manhattan won 30 games for the first time in 23 years, before claiming a school-record-matching 34 wins in 2017. 

Clifford was part of the 2021 MAAC championship team that made an improbable run to the NCAA Fayetteville Regional as a No. 6 seed in the conference tournament.

In her time in Riverdale, N.Y., Clifford successfully recruited, mentored and developed 42 MAAC all-Academic players, 26 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, 14 all-MAAC players, eight MAAC All-Rookie Team players, seven College Sports Communicators Academic All-District players, six NFCA All-Region players, one league Rookie of the Year, one conference  Player of the Year.

A 2014 graduate of Mount St. Mary's University, she was a four-year starter at third base for the Mountaineers. Clifford graduated among the Mount St. Mary's all-time leaders in home runs (fourth, 17), at-bats (sixth, 483), games played (seventh, 172), total bases (eighth, 192) and walks (eighth, 52). She was a Second Team All-Northeast Conference selection in 2013, when she hit .312 with eight home runs, including a long ball against No. 4 Florida, and 24 RBIs.

The Hopewell Junction, N.Y., native, who has a master's degree from Manhattan (2022), worked as an assistant with the Hudson Valley Express U12 travel team in the summer of 2014 before beginning her collegiate coaching career at NCAA Division III Susquehanna in 2015. She was a member of the Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year that season, as the Crusaders went 31-7 and placed seven players on the all-conference team.