Stanford Cardinal softball

Stanford Cardinal softball
2026 Stanford Cardinal softball team
Founded1994
UniversityStanford University
Athletic directorBernard Muir
All-time Record1,088–678–3 (.616)
Head coachJessica Allister (9th season)
ConferenceACC
LocationStanford, California
Home stadiumStanford Softball Stadium (capacity: ~1,300)
NicknameCardinal
ColorsCardinal and white
   
NCAA WCWS appearances
2001, 2004, 2023, 2024
NCAA super regional appearances
2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2022, 2023, 2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Regular-season conference championships
2005

The Stanford Cardinal softball team represents Stanford University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cardinal are currently led by head coach Jessica Allister. The team plays its home games at Stanford Softball Stadium located on the university's campus. However, due to renovations, the Cardinal played its 2025 home games at Stanford Stadium, the university's on-campus football venue.

History

Coaching history

Years Coach Record %
1994–1996Sandy Pearce44–96.314
1997–2014John Rittman750–351–3.681
2015–2017Rachel Hanson49–104.320
2018–PresentJessica Allister245–127.659

Championships

Conference Championships

Season Conference Record Head coach
2005Pac-12 Conference13–8John Rittman

Coaching staff

Name Position coached Consecutive season at
Stanford in current position
Jessica AllisterHead coach9th
Jessica MerchantAssociate head coach6th
Sara GroenewegenDirector of Softball Recruiting and Technology1st (formerly assistant coach)
Danielle O'Toole-Trejo Assistant coach 2nd
Jolene Henderson Assistant coach 1st
Caleb FeistDirector of operations5th
Reference:

Head coaching record

Sources:

Record table
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Sandy Pearce (Independent) (1994–1994)
1994 Sandy Pearce 5–30
Sandy Pearce (Pac-10 Conference) (1995–1996)
1995 Sandy Pearce 15–371–278th
1996 Sandy Pearce 24–297–196th
Sandy Pearce: 44–96 (.314)8–46 (.148)
John Rittman (Pac-10 Conference) (1997–2011)
1997 John Rittman 31–27–110–185th
1998 John Rittman 41–1817–113rdNCAA Regional
1999 John Rittman 40–2510–18T–6thNCAA Regional
2000 John Rittman 45–189–124thNCAA Regional
2001 John Rittman 54–16–111–10T–3rdWomen's College World Series (T–3rd)
2002 John Rittman 44–207–14T–6thNCAA Regional
2003 John Rittman 41–267–14T–6thNCAA Regional
2004 John Rittman 49–1913–8T–2ndWomen's College World Series (T–3rd)
2005 John Rittman 43–1613–8T–1stNCAA Super Regional
2006 John Rittman 42–1810–116thNCAA Super Regional
2007 John Rittman 35–21–17–13–16thNCAA Regional
2008 John Rittman 49–1511–104thNCAA Super Regional
2009 John Rittman 48–1113–84thNCAA Super Regional
2010 John Rittman 37–198–13T–6thNCAA Regional
2011 John Rittman 42–1710–115thNCAA Super Regional
John Rittman (Pac-12 Conference) (2012–2014)
2012 John Rittman 40–1911–136thNCAA Regional
2013 John Rittman 39–2113–114thNCAA Regional
2014 John Rittman 30–255–198th
John Rittman: 750–351–3 (.681)185–222–1 (.455)
Rachel Hanson (Pac-12 Conference) (2015–2017)
2015 Rachel Hanson 17–372–229th
2016 Rachel Hanson 13–350–249th
2017 Rachel Hanson 19–322–229th
Rachel Hanson: 49–104 (.320)4–68 (.056)
Jessica Allister (Pac-12 Conference) (2018–2024)
2018 Jessica Allister 24–313–218th
2019 Jessica Allister 32–188–135thNCAA Regional
2020 Jessica Allister 22–40–05thCanceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Jessica Allister 33–229–126thNCAA Regional
2022 Jessica Allister 39–2211–134thNCAA Super Regional
2023 Jessica Allister 47–1514–10T–4thWomen's College World Series (T–3rd)
2024 Jessica Allister 50–1717–32ndWomen's College World Series (T–3rd)
Jessica Allister (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2025–present)
2025 Jessica Allister 42–1316–8T–4thNCAA Regional
Jessica Allister: 289–142 (.671)78–70 (.527)
Total:1,132–693–3 (.620)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Notable players

National awards

USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
Softball America Pitcher of the Year
NFCA National Pitcher of the Year
NFCA National Freshman of the Year
Softball America Freshman of the Year

Conference awards

Pac-12 Player of the Year
Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
Pac-12 Coach of the Year

References

  1. ↑ "Stanford Identity Toolkit: Color". Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium". GoStanford.com. Stanford University. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "Stanford softball draws NCAA record crowd to football stadium". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Stanford Softball Year-By-Year Records". GoStanford.com. Stanford University. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  5. ↑ "Stanford Cardinal Softball Roster". GoStanford.com. Stanford University. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "Annual Standings". 2015 Pac-12 Softball Media Guide. Pac-12. 2015. pp. 55–56.
  7. ↑ "Stanford at the NCAA Tournament". GoStanford.com. Stanford University. August 15, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Stanford Softball Year-By-Year Records". GoStanford.com. Stanford University. Retrieved 3 May 2019.