Karen Marr - Softball Coach - Ball State University Athletics

Karen Marr

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
karen.marr@bsu.edu
Phone:
765-285-3720

Karen Marr, an elite international coach who most recently served as the Softball Australia National Pathway Battery Coordinator for nearly three years, enters her first season as Ball State's pitching coach in 2023.

"I cannot begin to express the excitement of adding Coach Marr to the staff here at Ball State," head coach Lacy Schurr said. "She brings a wealth of knowledge from the collegiate, national, and international levels. I look forward to seeing her immediate influence on the pitching staff, and the staff's impact on our program as we look to bring a MAC title back to Ball State."

Marr, a native of Sydney, Australia, has spent the past 12 years coaching on the international circuit including her most recent stop with Softball Australia.

"I want to thank Coach Schurr and Ball State University for providing me with the opportunity to join the program," Marr said. "The support they have provided me in this process has been beyond expectations. I am thrilled to be able to return to the United States and contribute to the Cardinals program; sharing my knowledge to the next generation of student-athletes."

She spent the 2018-19 season working with the Chinese National U-19 program, guiding the pitching staff at the East Asian Cup and the U19 World Cup held in Irvine, California.

Her stint with China followed an eight-year run with the Dutch National Softball program which began in January of 2011. During her time with the program, she helped the Dutch National U-22 Team go undefeated in the 2013 European Championships with a 0.00 Team ERA and earn a runner-up spot at the 2015 European Championships with a 0.49 ERA.

She also helped Dagmar Bloeming earn Outstanding Pitcher honors at the 2011 European Championships with a 0.58 ERA. On the women's open circuit, she helped her squads place fourth at the 2012 World Cup and sixth at both the 2012 and 2014 World Championships.

Marr then moved to the Dutch National U-19 program, helping guide the squads to a fourth-place finish at the 2016 World Championships and a ninth-place finish at the 2016 World Cup. She also served as the pitching coach for the women's open squad which won the 2017 European Championship and place at the 2018 World Championship.

In addition to all her international work, Marr has some high-level NCAA Division I collegiate experience, working with pitchers and catchers at Louisville from 2004-2010. She helped the Cardinals reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in her first season, and in each subsequent year for a run of seven straight tournament appearances with her on staff.

One of her non-pitching proteges at Louisville was Lacy (Wood) Schurr, who she helped mentor to become the first National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American in program history in 2006. She also coached pitcher Kristen Wadwell, a Sydney, Australia, native, to All-American honors in 2009, along with the first two-time honoree in program history in catcher Melissa Roth (2009-2010).

Her work also helped Louisville appear in the national rankings for the first time in program history in 2006, reaching as high as 17th. The Cardinals spent 13 weeks in the top 25 in 2009 and 10 weeks in the top 25 in 2010, reaching as high as 14th each season.

A member of the 2006 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year, Marr helped UofL win the 2005 Conference USA regular season title, the 2006 Big East regular season championship, and the 2007 Big East Tournament. She also helped Aja Sherman throw Louisville's first perfect game in 2004.

Marr joined the Louisville staff after serving as the National Battery Development Coach for the Australian Softball Federation from 2002-03. Prior to that, she was a pitching and catching specialist coach with the New South Wales State teams from 1994-2001.