Galloway, N.J. – Stockton Athletics is mourning the loss of assistant softball coach
Stephanie Allocco, who passed away earlier this week at the age of just 42 after a lengthy bout with cancer in which Allocco fought hard for four years. She coached at Stockton for five seasons, dealing with her illness for the majority of that time. Arrangements are being handled by
Bocco Funeral Home in Cherry Hill, N.J.
Although she is gone far too soon, Allocco long will be remembered not only by her friends, former teammates and former coaches, but also by the multitude of players whose lives she impacted as a coach for more than two decades.
Affectionately known as "Stuffy" – hardly anyone who knew her called her by her given name – Allocco joined the Osprey coaching staff following the hiring of her college teammate
Mavreen Hering as head coach prior to the 2016 season. Allocco helped the Stockton program to a 105-72-1 record (.593 winning percentage) during her time as an assistant coach.
Stockton qualified for the NJAC Tournament in all four full seasons that Allocco was on the staff (2020 season shortened due to COVID-19). In 2016, the Ospreys entered the NCAA regional rankings for the first time in school history and finished second in the NJAC, their highest-ever finish. The following year, Stockton was the NJAC Tournament runner-up.
In addition to her assistant coach role at Stockton, Allocco served as freshman coach and assistant varsity coach for the Moorestown High School girls soccer program for 21 years, influencing a generation of teens in the Burlington County township.
Three weeks ago, the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association renamed its SJSCA Courageous Athlete Award the Steph Allocco Courage and Perseverance Award in her honor. Allocco also coached softball at Moorestown for 15 years prior to joining the Stockton staff.
Allocco is one of the greatest softball players in New Jersey Athletic Conference history. She was a four-time All-American for Rowan University from 1997-2000, earning First Team honors three times. Allocco was voted NJAC Player of the Year twice (1998, 2000) and NJAC Rookie of the Year in 1997. She is Rowan's all-time leader in batting average, total bases and slugging percentage.
In addition to her considerable exploits on the softball field, Allocco was a 1999 NJAC First Team and 1997 NJAC Second Team selection as a forward for the Rowan women's soccer team. A four-year letter winner for the Profs, she ranks third in Rowan history in goals (48) and points (113).