Stanford Cardinal softball
In-game article clicks load inline without leaving the challenge.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1996 | Sandy Pearce | 44–96 | .314 |
| 1997–2014 | John Rittman | 750–351–3 | .681 |
| 2015–2017 | Rachel Hanson | 49–104 | .320 |
| 2018–Present | Jessica Allister | 245–127 | .659 |
Championships
Conference Championships
| Season | Conference | Record | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Pac-12 Conference | 13–8 | John Rittman |
Coaching staff
| Name | Position coached | Consecutive season at Stanford in current position |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Allister | Head coach | 9th |
| Jessica Merchant | Associate head coach | 6th |
| Sara Groenewegen | Director of Softball Recruiting and Technology | 1st (formerly assistant coach) |
| Danielle O'Toole-Trejo | Assistant coach | 2nd |
| Jolene Henderson | Assistant coach | 1st |
| Caleb Feist | Director of operations | 5th |
| Reference: |
Head coaching record
Sources:
| 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 | 15–37 | 1–27 | 8th | |
| 1996 | Sandy Pearce | 24–29 | 7–19 | 6th | |
| Sandy Pearce: | 44–96 (.314) | 8–46 (.148) | |||
| John Rittman (Pac-10 Conference) (1997–2011) | |||||
| 1997 | John Rittman | 31–27–1 | 10–18 | 5th | |
| 1998 | John Rittman | 41–18 | 17–11 | 3rd | NCAA Regional |
| 1999 | John Rittman | 40–25 | 10–18 | T–6th | NCAA Regional |
| 2000 | John Rittman | 45–18 | 9–12 | 4th | NCAA Regional |
| 2001 | John Rittman | 54–16–1 | 11–10 | T–3rd | Women's College World Series (T–3rd) |
| 2002 | John Rittman | 44–20 | 7–14 | T–6th | NCAA Regional |
| 2003 | John Rittman | 41–26 | 7–14 | T–6th | NCAA Regional |
| 2004 | John Rittman | 49–19 | 13–8 | T–2nd | Women's College World Series (T–3rd) |
| 2005 | John Rittman | 43–16 | 13–8 | T–1st | NCAA Super Regional |
| 2006 | John Rittman | 42–18 | 10–11 | 6th | NCAA Super Regional |
| 2007 | John Rittman | 35–21–1 | 7–13–1 | 6th | NCAA Regional |
| 2008 | John Rittman | 49–15 | 11–10 | 4th | NCAA Super Regional |
| 2009 | John Rittman | 48–11 | 13–8 | 4th | NCAA Super Regional |
| 2010 | John Rittman | 37–19 | 8–13 | T–6th | NCAA Regional |
| 2011 | John Rittman | 42–17 | 10–11 | 5th | NCAA Super Regional |
| John Rittman (Pac-12 Conference) (2012–2014) | |||||
| 2012 | John Rittman | 40–19 | 11–13 | 6th | NCAA Regional |
| 2013 | John Rittman | 39–21 | 13–11 | 4th | NCAA Regional |
| 2014 | John Rittman | 30–25 | 5–19 | 8th | |
| John Rittman: | 750–351–3 (.681) | 185–222–1 (.455) | |||
| Rachel Hanson (Pac-12 Conference) (2015–2017) | |||||
| 2015 | Rachel Hanson | 17–37 | 2–22 | 9th | |
| 2016 | Rachel Hanson | 13–35 | 0–24 | 9th | |
| 2017 | Rachel Hanson | 19–32 | 2–22 | 9th | |
| Rachel Hanson: | 49–104 (.320) | 4–68 (.056) | |||
| Jessica Allister (Pac-12 Conference) (2018–2024) | |||||
| 2018 | Jessica Allister | 24–31 | 3–21 | 8th | |
| 2019 | Jessica Allister | 32–18 | 8–13 | 5th | NCAA Regional |
| 2020 | Jessica Allister | 22–4 | 0–0 | 5th | Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | Jessica Allister | 33–22 | 9–12 | 6th | NCAA Regional |
| 2022 | Jessica Allister | 39–22 | 11–13 | 4th | NCAA Super Regional |
| 2023 | Jessica Allister | 47–15 | 14–10 | T–4th | Women's College World Series (T–3rd) |
| 2024 | Jessica Allister | 50–17 | 17–3 | 2nd | Women's College World Series (T–3rd) |
| Jessica Allister (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2025–present) | |||||
| 2025 | Jessica Allister | 42–13 | 16–8 | T–4th | NCAA 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
- Ashley Hansen (2011)
- NiJaree Canady (2024)
Softball America Pitcher of the Year
- NiJaree Canady (2024)
NFCA National Pitcher of the Year
- NiJaree Canady (2024)
NFCA National Freshman of the Year
- NiJaree Canady (2023)
Softball America Freshman of the Year
- NiJaree Canady (2023)
Conference awards
- Jessica Mendoza (2000)
- Ashley Hansen (2011)
- NiJaree Canady (2024)
- Jessica Mendoza (1999)
- Ashley Hansen (2009)
- Kayla Bonstrom (2013)
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year
- Lauren Lappin (2005, 2006)
- Rosey Neill (2008, 2009, 2010)
- Ashley Hansen (2012)
- John Rittman (2001, 2004)
- Jessica Allister (2019)