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The Pursuit of a Skyhawk Legacy: The Story of Ali Maloof

By Emma McGrory

            When Kenneth T. LeGrice died of cancer three years ago, he left behind a Stonehill Softball program in need of a new coach; one that would continue his legacy. 

 Ali Maloof would do just that. 

Maloof, from Norwood Massachusetts, has played softball since she could remember. She also played ice hockey and ran cross country and was a well-decorated athlete throughout high school and ultimately in college. 

As a player at Southern New Hampshire University, Maloof won many accolades from 2012 to 2015. She was the first player in program history to throw a perfect-game, two-time Daktronics All-American honoree, two-time Daktronics East Region Pitcher of the Year, the 2015 Daktronics East Region Player of the Year, a three-time Daktronics East All-Region selection, two-time NFCA All-Region recipient, the three-time NE10 Pitcher of the Year, the 2015 NE10 Player of the Year and a four-time NE10 All-Conference choice, including three-time First Teamer. Maloof also led her team to back-to-back NE10 Championships in 2014 and 2015. 

Following her career as a player, Maloof decided to stay with the Penmen for four more seasons as an assistant coach. However, she then decided she wanted to move on to the role of head coach. 

Maloof decided she would try to fill the legacy LeGrice had left behind as Stonehill softball’s head coach with one key value: resilience.

Maloof knew LeGrice on a personal level and was devastated to learn of his death in early May of 2021. “It was great to know him on both sides, softball and personally.”

LeGrice was a well-respected Brockton police lieutenant, and well known both at Stonehill, and surrounding softball teams. Maloof would often run into LeGrice when their respected teams would play each other in conference in the softball season during her time as a collegiate athlete. 

Maloof says that when facing LeGrice and the Skyhawks during her time at SNHU, he would often compliment her and applaud her hard work on the field, even if he was the opposing team’s coach. “He always was my biggest fan, and I knew I didn’t have to change much of the culture of the team, because it had formed itself.” 

She was determined to lead a team with the same values and culture that he had created within his team and earn the respect of the other teams she would play, just as he did.

Maloof said that she came to Stonehill as coach for several reasons; It was small and community based, there were strong relationships between the coaches, and has a welcoming environment.

When she was hired in September of 2021, Maloof found herself in the same conference and division she had once competed in as an athlete, the NE10 conference in Division 2 athletics. In her next season with the Skyhawks, Maloof and her team would be put to the test, as they were being moved to the NEC Conference in Division 1 athletics. 

This didn’t faze Maloof. She said she planned to maintain the same values and atmosphere within her team, even if it was going to be a challenge. 

Maloof said she loved the challenge and remained resilient, as LeGrice would have guided her to be. 

The transition of divisions required her team to be mentally focused, but Maloof said her team had no problem with that.

Maloof credited much of the Skyhawks' positive culture and attitude to the seniors she said as they have been with her throughout her career at Stonehill and have continued to guide the younger players every year. 

“I mean they’re goofy, and I let them be. I love it. But they know when to turn it off and lock in. I never have to tell them when to focus, because they know. And I love that about them.” 

Maloof said without her players' hard work and desire to get better, the culture instilled by LeGrice would have been much more difficult to keep. This culture would inspire the team to work hard and for each other to continue to improve their records as the years went on. 

The Skyhawks were 14-37 (.095 pct) in their record last year, a huge jump from their first year in the NEC, 4-42 (.275 pct). Maloof said her goals for the 2025 season are to be at least .500 pct, meaning they would need to win another 10 games compared to their last season in 2024. To achieve that, Maloof said she wants to first be a family with her team and continue LeGrice’s legacy of being resilient. 

 

 

Works Cited:

https://www.coachkenfoundation.org/about-coach-ken

https://www.russellpicafuneralhome.com/obituaries/Lt-Ken-Le-Grice?obId=21008359

https://snhupenmen.com/honors/hall-of-fame/ali-maloof/114

https://snhupenmen.com/sports/softball/roster/ali-maloof/2647

https://stonehillskyhawks.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/ali-maloof/1112


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