Kathy Arendsen
Current position | |||||||||||||||
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Title | Head coach | ||||||||||||||
Record | 615–455 (.575) | ||||||||||||||
Biographical details | |||||||||||||||
Born | Zeeland, Michigan, U.S. | October 10, 1958||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Grand Valley State University Texas Woman's University California State University, Chico | ||||||||||||||
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |||||||||||||||
1997–2002 | Mississippi State | ||||||||||||||
2003–2009 | Oregon | ||||||||||||||
Head coaching record | |||||||||||||||
Overall | 615–455 (.575) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Kathy Arendsen (born October 10, 1958) is an American softball head coach and former professional player. Arendsen pitched for Holland Christian High School, where she won the state championship, before embarking on a successful collegiate and professional career. During her college years, Arendsen pitched for Texas Woman's University and California State University, Chico, where she led both teams to national championships. In recognition of her efforts, she received the 1978 Broderick Award as the nation's outstanding female athlete in softball. She was also selected to pitch for Team USA at the 1979 and 1983 Pan American Games, winning a gold and silver medal respectively.
Upon concluding her collegiate career, Arendsen played professional softball with the
As she concluded her professional career, Arendsen was hired to coach at Mississippi State University and the University of Oregon, the former at which she became the winningest coach in program history. Between 2003 and 2009, Arendsen led the Oregon Ducks softball team to their best start in school history and their first playoff run since the 2000 season.
Early life
Arendsen was born on October 10, 1958, in Zeeland, Michigan.[1] As a child, she idolized Joan Joyce, a softball player and pitcher for the Raybestos Brakettes, after witnessing her play at the age of 12.[2] She began playing competitive softball at the same time and later shifted her focus to pitching at the behest of her high school coach.[3] She originally played first base and the outfield in an adult league only under duress.[4]
By seventh grade, Arendsen stood at 6 ft (180 cm) tall and was encouraged to play basketball by her junior high and high school coaches although she preferred softball.[1] She played softball in junior high at Zeeland Christian and at Holland Christian High School, where she pitched them to the state championship while suffering from chickenpox. Due to the lack of opportunity for female athletes at the time, her team played in blue jeans and old basketball jerseys.[5]
Playing career
Collegiate
Arendsen completed her high school career earning all-state honors
Post-collegiate
After graduating in 1980,[9] Arendsen met Joyce at a softball clinic in Meriden where she impressed Joyce with her pitching skills. Joyce then encouraged her to try out for the Raybestos Brakettes, the top amateur team in the country. She earned a spot on the team and won 95 games in her first four years.[2] She also competed at the national level during the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara, California, where she helped the United States win another first-place finish.[10][11] Arendsen pitched four shutouts, culminating in a perfect game in the championship final.[12] She returned to the Pan American Games in 1983, where she led the team to a silver medal.[13] While continuing to play amateur softball, she accepted various assistant coaching positions at Temple University, the University of Connecticut, Northwestern University, and Yale University.[1]
During the
Arendsen played with the Brakettes for 15 years, earning All-American honors 13 times and winning nine national championships and three
Coaching career
Upon her retirement in 1992, Arendsen finished her career with a 338–26 record which included 79 no-hitters, 42 perfect games, 265 shutouts and a 0.15 ERA.[19] She was later ranked by Sports Illustrated as one of the 50 greatest sports figures from Michigan.[20] She joined the coaching staff at Mississippi State University for six years, where she rebuilt their softball program and held a 381-279 overall record.[21]
After spending six years at Mississippi State, she joined the coaching staff at the
References
- ^ a b c d "Head Coach Kathy Arendsen". hailstate.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c Cavanaugh, John (August 9, 1981). "A Pitcher Makes Her Mark". The New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Cybulski, Pat (April 14, 1988). "Arendsen follows Olympic mission". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- Washington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Holland Sentinel. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c Murray, Ken (December 16, 1978). "TWU pitcher delivering". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b D’Addona, Dan (August 31, 2015). "Top 10 female athletes: Kathy Arendsen, Holland Christian softball". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Boswell, Thomas (July 16, 1979). "Puerto Rico Leaves a Pan Am Imprint All Its Own". Washington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "KATHY ARENDSEN". twuathletics.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Women Win Final in Softball". The New York Times. August 3, 1981. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "American team remains unbeaten in softball". San Jose Mercury-News. San Jose, California. August 1, 1981. p. 5E.
- ^ SARGIS, JOE (August 2, 1981). "Arendsen pitches perfect game". United Press International.
- ^ "ALL-TIME PAN AMERICAN GAMES ROSTERS". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ Cavanaugh, Jack (July 15, 1992). "Meet the Fast-Pitch Dream Team". The New York Times.
- ^ "Women's softball pitcher once faced Jackson". New Bern Sun Journal. July 21, 1987. Retrieved September 4, 2020 – via Newspapers Archive.
- ^ Amdur, Neil (July 25, 1981). "KATHY ARENDSEN SHOWS OFF SUPERIOR FASTBALL AT FESTIVAL". The New York Times. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c Colon, Bob (June 18, 1983). "Brakette Hurler May Be Best Ever in Softball". The Oklahoman. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Kunda, John (June 20, 1986). "SHE'S THE 'QUEEN' OF FASTPITCH". The Morning Call. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c "KATHY ARENDSEN". goducks.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "THE 50 GREATEST SPORTS FIGURES FROM MICHIGAN". vault.si.com. 1999. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "NO. 25 SOFTBALL HEADS TO HOUSTON INVITATIONAL". goducks.com. February 19, 2003. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Rickard, Jack (April 23, 2004). "Coach turns Ducks around". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved September 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "ARENDSEN ONE OF SEVEN TO BE INDUCTED INTO MICHIGAN HALL OF FAME". goducks.com. February 14, 2003. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "SOFTBALL TO HOST VIEWING FOR NCAA REGIONAL BIDS". goducks.com. May 8, 2003. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "ARENDSEN WINNINGEST UO COACH, DUCKS DOWN SAN DIEGO, 2-0". goducks.com. February 29, 2008. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "Arendsen will not return as UO softball coach". dailyemerald.com. May 19, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2020.