Ball State University Athletics
Softball's Matt Burns Promoted to Associate Head Coach
January 09, 2025 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Matt Burns has been promoted to associate head coach, announced today by Ball State softball head coach Helen Peña. Burns enters his second season as the program's hitting coach and recruiting coordinator in 2025.
Â
"I'm thrilled and honored to announce the promotion of Matt Burns to Associate Head Coach of Ball State Softball," Peña said. "He's a great teacher of the game, has a talented offensive mind, and cares about instilling life lessons into our players. Coach Burns has been a tremendous asset to this team, my staff, and I'm very excited to see him continue to grow under this new title!"
Â
In his first season as an assistant coach for the Cardinals last season, Burns helped Ball State reach the title game of the 2024 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
Â
His coaching helped the Cardinals finish the 2024 campaign with a 29-29 overall record, including a 12-13 mark in MAC play. Ball State secured the sixth and final seed in the conference championship with a 5-2 victory over Central Michigan in its final game of the regular season, and after losing its second game in the tournament to Ohio, won three consecutive elimination games to make it to the title tilt.
Â
Ball State turned in some solid offensive numbers in Burns' first season, ranking second in the conference and 58th nationally with a 5.16 runs-per-game average. The Cardinals blasted 52 home runs on the season, led by a BSU single season record 25 from McKayla Timmons. One of four Cardinals to collect All-MAC honors in 2024, Timmons also earned a spot on the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team.
Â
The 2024 Cardinals' offense also ranked second in the MAC and 28th nationally with 84 total doubles, with four different players collecting 11 on the season.  Ball State also finished the season ranked 19th among all NCAA Division I programs with 208 walks drawn, while ranking 75th nationally with a .440 team slugging percentage.
Â
The Ball State softball team opens the 2025 season on Thursday, Feb. 6 with an 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT first pitch at Cal Poly for its first of five games at the Mustang Classic.
Â
"I'm thrilled and honored to announce the promotion of Matt Burns to Associate Head Coach of Ball State Softball," Peña said. "He's a great teacher of the game, has a talented offensive mind, and cares about instilling life lessons into our players. Coach Burns has been a tremendous asset to this team, my staff, and I'm very excited to see him continue to grow under this new title!"
Â
In his first season as an assistant coach for the Cardinals last season, Burns helped Ball State reach the title game of the 2024 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
Â
His coaching helped the Cardinals finish the 2024 campaign with a 29-29 overall record, including a 12-13 mark in MAC play. Ball State secured the sixth and final seed in the conference championship with a 5-2 victory over Central Michigan in its final game of the regular season, and after losing its second game in the tournament to Ohio, won three consecutive elimination games to make it to the title tilt.
Â
Ball State turned in some solid offensive numbers in Burns' first season, ranking second in the conference and 58th nationally with a 5.16 runs-per-game average. The Cardinals blasted 52 home runs on the season, led by a BSU single season record 25 from McKayla Timmons. One of four Cardinals to collect All-MAC honors in 2024, Timmons also earned a spot on the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region First Team.
Â
The 2024 Cardinals' offense also ranked second in the MAC and 28th nationally with 84 total doubles, with four different players collecting 11 on the season.  Ball State also finished the season ranked 19th among all NCAA Division I programs with 208 walks drawn, while ranking 75th nationally with a .440 team slugging percentage.
Â
The Ball State softball team opens the 2025 season on Thursday, Feb. 6 with an 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT first pitch at Cal Poly for its first of five games at the Mustang Classic.
Players Mentioned
UT
/ SoftballThis Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Softball's Lindsey DeRoeck & AD Jeff Mitchell
Thursday, February 26
Sports Link: National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Wednesday, February 25
Cardinal Conversation with Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell and Softball's Ashlee Lovett
Thursday, February 19
Celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day // Produced by Ball State Sports Link
Wednesday, February 04