The Kentucky Wildcats softball team represents the
University of Kentucky in the sport of
softball. The Kentucky Wildcats compete in
Division I of the
National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the
Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Wildcats play their home games at John Cropp Stadium on the university's
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...
campus, and are currently led by head coach
Rachel Lawson. In the history of the Wildcats softball program, the team has made appearances in twelve
NCAA Division I Softball Championship, eight Super Regionals, and one
Women's College World Series (WCWS).
Head coaches
History
The
University of Kentucky softball team had their inaugural season in 1997.
University of Kentucky Athletic Director
Mitch Barnhart
Mitch Barnhart (born August 27, 1959) is the athletics director for the Kentucky Wildcats athletics program at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Barnhart was hired by the university in 2002 succeeding Larry Ivy. Barnhart served ...
hired
Rachel Lawson in July 2007. Since her hire, Lawson has guided UK to eight NCAA Super Regionals including an appearance in the
2014 College World Series
The 2014 NCAA Division I baseball tournament began on Friday, May 30, 2014 as part of the 2014 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 team double elimination tournament concluded with the 2014 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, which start ...
, the program's first.
In her fourteen seasons at Kentucky, Lawson has an overall win–loss record of 495-297, making her the winningest head coach in school history and already has more wins in SEC play than UK had total as a program when she took over in 2008. UK also finished 2016 in the top 14 of both collegiate softball rankings for the third time in school history with eleven wins over ranked teams.
Another accomplishment since Lawson's hire in 2008 is the construction of John Cropp Stadium. The facility cost $9.5 million, and debuted for the 2013 season. UK hosted the 2013 SEC Tournament as well as an NCAA regional, another first for the program. Since 2013, UK has hosted an NCAA regional in 2013, 2014, 2016–2019, and 2021.
Year-by-year results
All-Americans
Other Awards
References
External links
Official Website
{{Southeastern Conference softball navbox
Sports clubs established in 1997
1997 establishments in Kentucky