Ohio State softball coaching staff receives impressive honor
Coming into the 2025 season, the Ohio State softball team wasn't expected to be much of a player in the Big Ten. The team lost a lot of its offensive production and was ushering in a new head coach and staff. By all accounts and measures, it was a turn-the-page kind of year, one that would perceivably need a lot of patience and grace.
But a funny thing happened in a year of uncertainty. The team led the entire country in several offensive categories, including home runs and RBIs en route to a tie for fourth place in the Big Ten and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Region. Things ended there, but it was something to build on, and something to point towards some promise for years ahead.
And now, for all of its efforts, the Ohio State softball coaching staff was recognized as the NFCA Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year on Friday. That not only includes head coach Kirin Kumar, but also assistant coaches Matthew Guemmer and Courtney Vierstra.
The Buckeyes won 45 games in 2025 and led the country by scoring 495 runs. OSU also set school records for doubles (102), runs per game (8.25), and slugging percentage (.701). It also became the first team in NCAA history to have four players hit 20 or more home runs in a season.
This isn't the first time Kumar and her staff have won coaching staff of the year in the region. Her group of coaches was also recognized at Miami (OH) in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Vierstra came with Kumar from Oxford, while Guemmer joined her in Columbus after being an assistant at Rutgers.
The NFCA's Great Lakes Region is comprised of 34 teams from 10 different conferences. The Big Ten members in the region are Indiana, Michigan, Northwestern, and Wisconsin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
30 minutes ago
- USA Today
ESPN makes boring selection for Ohio State's \
ESPN came out with a fun article this week, naming a "sleeper" player for every team in their expected Top 25. For the Buckeyes, they pick Carnell Tate. Honestly, Tate was the obvious pick. In a team with such high expectations and so few returning players, there were no other real choices. Basically everyone else returning to the Buckeyes is a veritable star already, and even the under-the-radar defenders returning are more high-profile than Tate. Then again, Tate is pretty high-profile himself. Sure, he was stuck behind Emeka Egbuka on the depth chart this past year, making him the third option in an elite receiver room, but most college football fans know who he is (especially after the Cotton Bowl). Which is why, in a way, ESPN chickened out a bit by going with Tate. As ESPN describes it, "With Egbuka gone to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tate is set to play an ever bigger role for the Buckeyes as a junior." Which is obviously true. At the same time, the Buckeyes receiver room is so stacked that Tate––while certainly a talented playmaker––probably isn't much of a sleeper. A much better pick might have Eddrick Houston or Kayden McDonald on the defensive line. The Buckeyes need to replace a lot of NFL talent in that area, and someone will need to really step up if Ohio State wants to be championship-caliber again. Or if ESPN really wanted a sleeper of an offensive player for the Buckeyes, they could have gone with Brandon Inniss. Inniss should be an impact player for the Buckeyes this year (kind of like Tate last year), and far fewer people know who he is. Honestly, given the fact that Carnell Tate was the main photo ESPN used for their article, it almost feels like they put him up there because he is recognized already. Which he deserves--after all, he is one of the best returning receivers in college football. But it doesn't make him much of a "sleeper," does it?
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Who's representing Iowa football at 2025 Big Ten Media Days?
Now that we're into the month of July, Big Ten football season is right around the corner. But before each team hits the gridiron next month, they'll send representatives to Las Vegas, Nevada for Big Ten Media Days. Big Ten Media Days will take place over three days this year, spanning July 22-24, with six teams speaking each day. Fans will have to wait until the final day, July 24, to hear Kirk Ferentz and his three team representatives talk about the 2025 season. Iowa joins Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA and USC as the six teams to speak on the final day. Who's representing Iowa football at 2025 Big Ten Media Days? Ferentz is going veteran heavy with his representatives this year, bringing along junior Koen Entringer, sixth-year Logan Jones and sixth-year Ethan Hurkett. And by looking at each player's time in Iowa City, it's easy to see why Ferentz chose these three players. Entringer, a 6-foot-0 207-pound safety from Ypsilanti, Michigan, played in 12 games last season for the Hawkeyes. He made the first start of his career against Michigan State. In 2024, Entringer had 18 total tackles, one interception and one pass break-up. He figures to start at safety for Iowa this season. Advertisement Jones, a 6-foot-3 260-pound center from Council Bluffs, Iowa, has had a storied career with the Hawks so far. He's start 38 games in his career at center, earning a first-team All-Big Ten nod from the media and a second-team All-Big Ten selection from the coaches last season. Entering 2025, Jones is a Walter Camp preseason second-team All-American player. Hurkett, a 6-foot-3 260-pound defensive lineman from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is coming off his best season as a Hawkeye. He was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten player by both the coaches and media after a 2024 season where he had 56 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, six and a half sacks and three forced fumbles. Entering 2025, Hurkett was named an Athlon Sports second-team All-Big Ten player. Hawkeye fans will be curious to hear what those three players and Kirk Ferentz have to say at Big Ten Media Days. And when those are done, it'll almost be time to return to Kinnick Stadium for a brand new season of Iowa football. 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 Zach on X: @zach_hiney This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Who's representing Iowa football at 2025 Big Ten Media Days?
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Who's representing Iowa football at 2025 Big Ten Media Days?
Now that we're into the month of July, Big Ten football season is right around the corner. But before each team hits the gridiron next month, they'll send representatives to Las Vegas, Nevada for Big Ten Media Days. Big Ten Media Days will take place over three days this year, spanning July 22-24, with six teams speaking each day. Fans will have to wait until the final day, July 24, to hear Kirk Ferentz and his three team representatives talk about the 2025 season. Iowa joins Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, UCLA and USC as the six teams to speak on the final day. Who's representing Iowa football at 2025 Big Ten Media Days? Ferentz is going veteran heavy with his representatives this year, bringing along junior Koen Entringer, sixth-year Logan Jones and sixth-year Ethan Hurkett. And by looking at each player's time in Iowa City, it's easy to see why Ferentz chose these three players. Entringer, a 6-foot-0 207-pound safety from Ypsilanti, Michigan, played in 12 games last season for the Hawkeyes. He made the first start of his career against Michigan State. In 2024, Entringer had 18 total tackles, one interception and one pass break-up. He figures to start at safety for Iowa this season. Jones, a 6-foot-3 260-pound center from Council Bluffs, Iowa, has had a storied career with the Hawks so far. He's start 38 games in his career at center, earning a first-team All-Big Ten nod from the media and a second-team All-Big Ten selection from the coaches last season. Entering 2025, Jones is a Walter Camp preseason second-team All-American player. Hurkett, a 6-foot-3 260-pound defensive lineman from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is coming off his best season as a Hawkeye. He was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten player by both the coaches and media after a 2024 season where he had 56 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, six and a half sacks and three forced fumbles. Entering 2025, Hurkett was named an Athlon Sports second-team All-Big Ten player. Hawkeye fans will be curious to hear what those three players and Kirk Ferentz have to say at Big Ten Media Days. And when those are done, it'll almost be time to return to Kinnick Stadium for a brand new season of Iowa football. 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 Zach on X: @zach_hiney
