NATCHITOCHES – First-year head coach Jenny Fuller has been named to a short list as one of the best new hires in the country.
 
The new Northwestern State skipper was named the 10^th best coaching hire according to D1softball.com across all Division I programs this past summer. The 2024 coaching carousel saw 50 programs changing hands at the top, including five Power 4 schools.
 
"I am honored to be included on a list like this, especially when there were so many hires made across the country," Fuller said. "We've worked hard in our career for these kinds of chances and are thankful to all the people that have been a part of that success. Thank you to (NSU Athletic Director) Kevin Bostian for giving Brad (Fuller) and I this opportunity here at NSU. I just want to do what I can to live up to this honor, get this program back on track and do a lot of great things here."
 
Fuller was named the 13^th head softball coach at NSU on July 24, 2024.
 
She spent the past three seasons at Pittsburg State where she won more than 100 games, produced four all-Americans, six academic all-Americans, seven all-region players and 18 all-conference players during her tenure.
 
During the 2024 season, the Gorillas claimed a share of the MIAA regular season crown for just the second time in program history, and set a program record with 53 wins, including an impressive 23-3 mark in conference play. Fuller and her staff, that includes her husband Brad, were named the MIAA Coach of the Year following the historic season.
 
Prior to her time at Pitt State, Fuller spent three seasons at Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D., where in 2020, the Wolves won their first 10 games of the season and had a program-best 15-4 record before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
In her first head coaching position, a NAIA-member Cardinal Stritch in Milwaukee, she complied a 59-36 record in two seasons including a 30-13 mark in year one.
 
Through nine seasons as a collegiate head coach, Fuller has compiled a 249-171 (.593) overall record.
 
Fuller and the Demons open the 2025 season on Feb. 7 at the South Alabama Invitational.