Herkimer College softball coach to be keynote speaker at inaugural NYSPHSAA Student Leadership Conference

Herkimer College head softball coach Peter “PJ” Anadio will be a keynote speaker at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s inaugural Student Leadership Conference.

Anadio has served as the head softball coach since 2010. Under his leadership, his Generals softball teams have had a 379-75 all-time record and took home the National Championship title in 2013. He’s been named Region III Coach of the Year three times, is a seven-time Conference Coach of the Year honoree, and has been named the Mountain Valley Collegiate Conference Co-Coach of the Year every year since 2011.

“I am truly humbled to be chosen as the keynote speaker at this year’s leadership conference,” Anadio said. “It is a great opportunity for not only myself but for Herkimer College as well. But truthfully, this isn’t about us. I am more enthralled and passionate about the eyes, ears, and souls on the other side: the student-athletes.”

His presentation, titled “All About that Drip - Mental Toughness,” will explore how student-athletes can mentally prepare for the next leg of their journey as they get ready to head to college or join the workforce. Anadio says he hopes to inspire them “to be mentally tough, persistent, consistent, and to fall in love with the process. To be relentless in their pursuit of whatever it is they seek.”

The NYSPHSAA, formed in 1923, is the state’s non-profit governing body for interscholastic high school sports. It currently serves more than 1,500 member schools and sponsors 32 state championship tournaments and three regional tournaments. Its Student Leadership Conference will be hosted virtually and is expected to draw about 1,000 student-athletes from across the state for a day of workshops on things such as nutrition, college and career mapping, diversity, and more.

“We are excited to have Coach Anadio as a keynote speaker for the NYSPHSAA Student Leadership Conference,” said Kristen Jadin, assistant director of the NYSPHSAA. “I believe his presentation on persistence, determination, consistency, and overall mental toughness is one that will resonate with the student-athletes across New York State.”

The NYSPHSAA Student Leadership Conference will be held virtually on March 5, 2021.