Avrey Steiner - Softball Coach - Ball State University Athletics

Avrey Steiner

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
avrey.steiner@bsu.edu
Phone:
765-285-5131

A proven winner on the field, earning a pair of NFCA All-Region honors as a player at Illinois, Avrey Steiner enters her second season as an assistant coach for the Cardinals in 2025.

In her first season, Steiner helped Ball State reach the title game of the 2024 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The Cardinals finished the 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.

The Cardinals’ first base coach, Steiner helped the squad rank second in the MAC and 25th nationally with 92 stolen bases. It is the seventh-best single season total in program history and included six different players with at least nine stolen bases.

On the defensive end, she helped the Cardinals rank third in the MAC with 16 double plays, while also turning one of only eight triple plays in the nation last season.

A five-year starter (2019-23) and four-year team captain (2020-23) at Illinois, Steiner joined the Ball State staff after a highly decorated playing career for former Cardinals head coach Tyra Perry (2014-15).

"I am thrilled to have Coach Avrey on staff after her incredible playing career at the University of Illinois, where she was one of the top offensive threats in the Big Ten and a key defensive player for the Illini,” Peña said. “Our players will benefit immensely from her experience as a high-level collegiate athlete who knows what it takes to be successful on the field and in the classroom.”

In her five seasons in Champaign, Stenier helped guide the Illini to a 131-105 (.555) record and NCAA Regional appearances in 2019 and 2022. She made 222 career starts while playing in 229 of a possible 236 games. A .333 career batter, Steiner led Illinois in batting average in three of her five seasons, including the 10th-best single-season average in program history at .391 in 2022.

“I am very humbled and excited to join the Ball State Softball Family,” Steiner said. “I am so grateful to Coach Peña for this opportunity, and I look forward to helping this program grow alongside her leadership.”

Steiner earned All-Big Ten First Team honors for her 2022 campaign, in which she also led the league and ranked 12th nationally with 77 hits. As a junior in 2021, Steiner was named All-Big Ten Second Team after producing a .329 average and ranking 10th in the league with 51 hits.

“Avrey’s mind for the game, along with her elite preparedness and determination, rivals coaches twice her age,” Peña added. “I'm thankful she's beginning her coaching journey as a Cardinal, and I'm looking forward to seeing her thrive in this position!"

Steiner finished her playing career with 231 hits, the fifth most in program history, including 24 doubles and three triples. She drove in 45 career RBI while scoring 118 career runs. She also collected 37 career walks and was hit by a pitch three times for a .370 career on base percentage.

On the base paths, she collected 33 career stolen bases. She was just as solid in the field, boasting a .965 fielding percentage, with 375 assists and 344 assists as a mainstay at second base.

In addition to her playing career, Steiner was an assistant coach for the Thunder Elite Premier 16U from 2020-23. In addition to assisting in player development and recruiting, she was the lead infield coach and worked with slappers. She also served as the third base coach.

Steiner, who has over six years of experience as a softball skills instructor and a camp clinician, earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting (2022) and master’s degree in business management (2023) from Illinois.