Having recently concluded her legendary playing career at Auburn in May, former Auburn softball star Maddie Penta quickly transitioned into coaching, as she was named an assistant at James Madison University on Thursday.
“We are excited to welcome Maddie Penta as our new pitching coach,” said JMU head coach Loren LaPorte in a statement. “Maddie’s impressive track record brings a wealth of expertise and a fresh perspective that will be crucial in developing our pitching staff. Her passion and work ethic align perfectly with our vision, and we are confident that her leadership will elevate our team’s success.”
During her four seasons at Auburn, where she played under former JMU head coach Mickey Dean, Penta set multiple program pitching records, was named SEC Pitcher of the Year in 2023, and earned back-to-back All-American honors.
From the Plains to the Valley 🥎
Please welcome Maddie Penta to Harrisonburg as the new Assistant Coach for the Dukes! 💜
📰 https://t.co/3cvA9bSLSF#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/D4vtcLV5jG
— JMU Softball (@JMUSoftball) August 22, 2024
One of Penta’s final appearances for Auburn was one of her most memorable, leading the Tigers to a 2-1 victory over UCF in a 12-inning thriller during the NCAA Tournament in May.
That night, Penta made history as the first pitcher in program history to record 250-plus strikeouts in three consecutive seasons, while also breaking the program’s single-game strikeout record with 19 against UCF.
With 76 career wins, Penta left Auburn as the program’s all-time winningest pitcher.
Now, she will take on the role of coaching JMU’s bullpen.
“I am incredibly excited to join a program with such a strong reputation and culture,” Penta said in a statement. “I’m eager to work with this talented group of athletes and help the program return to the Women’s College World Series.”
Penta will have the chance to coach against her alma mater in the 2025 season when Auburn and JMU face off at the Rocket City Showcase in Huntsville on Feb. 21.
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