Ball State University Athletics
Jenny Gilbert Named Assistant Softball Coach
August 12, 2015 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - A familiar face will be returning to the Ball State softball coaching staff, as two-time All-American and professional player Jenny Gilbert has been named an assistant coach for the Cardinals according to first-year head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett.
“I am thrilled to announce the hiring of Jenny Gilbert as a full-time coach,” Ciolli Bartlett said. “She is a bright young star in this profession. Jenny is loyal, passionate and very knowledgeable. There is no one more proud of what this program has accomplished than Jenny Gilbert. I am ecstatic she will be a part of its future.”
Gilbert, who is currently completing her second season as a member of the National Pro Fastpitch's Akron Racers, began her collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant for her alma mater in 2015. With her help, Ball State finished the season with a 34-25 (14-5 Mid-American Conference) record, won the MAC West Division title and claimed the league's tournament championship to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Regionals. The Cardinals went on to defeat 16th-seeded Notre Dame in the regional opener for the program's first-ever regional victory.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to represent Ball State,” Gilbert said “I want to thank Megan Ciolli Bartlett for this amazing opportunity to remain working with one of the premier softball programs in the Midwest. As an alumna, I take great ownership in this program. I will use my knowledge from my time as a player at Ball State, as well as professional playing experience, to continue the winning tradition of our program.”
A two-time All-American left fielder as a student-athlete for Ball State from 2011-2014, Gilbert helped guide the Cardinals to three MAC Regular Season Championships (2012, 2013 & 2014) over her playing career. Gilbert, the only All-American in program history, became just the fourth two-time All-America selection in MAC history when she was named to the NFCA All-America Second Team in 2014 after earning third team status one year earlier. The only three-time MAC Player of the Year (2012, 2013 & 2014), Gilbert finished her career as one of only 11 players in NCAA Division I history to earn her respective conference player of the year award three times.
Gilbert finished her collegiate career as the league's record holder in runs batted in (246), runs scored (215), home runs (75), doubles (62) and slugging percentage (.810). Her 75 home runs ranked eighth in NCAA Division I history at the conclusion of her career, and she became the NCAA career home run leader among Canadian-born players with her 66th blast versus North Dakota State (March 22, 2014). In addition, she ended her playing career tied for ninth in NCAA Division I history with 246 RBI, while her .810 slugging percentage was 10th.
Following her Ball State playing days, Gilbert signed with the Akron Racers after being selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2014 NPF Draft. The first outfielder chosen in the draft, she played a partial season for the Racers in 2014 before finishing the summer with the Canadian National Team, with which she has been associated since 2009. This summer, Gilbert has played exclusively for the Racers who enter this weekend's NPF Championship Series as the third seed.
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