Iowa softball names sixth head coach in program history
Following a relatively successful 35-18 season, considering the multiple in-season head coaching changes endured throughout the 2025 campaign, Iowa Director of Athletics, Beth Goetz, announced on Wednesday that former Hawkeyes star Stacy May-Johnson would become the program's sixth head coach.
May-Johnson played at Iowa from 2003-06, where she was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and the 2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In 2003, she was a part of the Hawkeyes squad that won both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament championship. She still ranks in the top 15 in program history in career games played, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and batting average.
'I am thrilled to be coming back to Iowa City and to once again be a Hawkeye,' said May-Johnson. 'I look forward to leading Iowa softball to Big Ten Championships and the Women's College World Series, and creating a championship culture both in the classroom and on the field.'
In addition to playing at Iowa, she served as a student assistant for the Hawkeyes in 2007 and later as an assistant coach from 2011-14.
Outside of Iowa, May-Johnson gathered plenty of coaching experience, including head coaching stints at Utah Valley (2020-21) and, most recently, Fresno State (2022-25). She was also a volunteer assistant at Louisville (2008-10), an assistant at Louisville (2015-16) and Purdue (2017), and associate head coach at Eastern Kentucky (2018-19).
'We are thrilled to welcome Stacy May-Johnson back to Iowa as the new head coach of our softball program,' said Goetz. 'Stacy is a proven leader with a deep understanding of what it means to be a Hawkeye. Her experience as a standout student-athlete, combined with her coaching success and commitment to developing young women on and off the field, makes her the ideal person to lead our program into its next chapter. We are excited for the future of Iowa softball under her leadership.'
During her time at Fresno State, May-Johnson saw the Bulldogs improve their win total year-over-year, notching 112 victories in four seasons. In 2025, she led Fresno to 37 wins and the Mountain West Championship title game.
In her tenure, May-Johnson coached one Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, two MWC Pitchers of the Year, three NFCA All-Region, and nine All-Mountain West honorees. In the classroom, the Bulldogs had 41 Academic All-Mountain West selections and 28 Mountain West Scholar-Athletes.
Before moving to California, May-Johnson spent two seasons as head coach at Utah Valley, where she coached seven All-WAC selections.
Following her collegiate career, May-Johnson played professionally for the Chicago Bandits of the NPF (National Pro Fastpitch) and was a member of the United States National Team. She spent five years in the NPF where she was a two-time NPF Most Valuable Player. She was the 2006 NPF Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star and led the team to two titles. May-Johnson, who is one of six players to have her number retired with Chicago, led the NPF in home runs, hits and runs scored in each of her MVP seasons in 2008 and 2010.
As a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, May-Johnson helped Team USA win gold medals at the 2011 Pan American Games, the 2011 and 2012 World Cups, and a silver medal at the 2012 World Championships. She was named the 2011 USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year.
With the hire of May-Johnson, Iowa hopes her experience and knowledge of the game will elevate the program to new heights in the new-look Big Ten and on the national stage.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
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