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

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

Championships

Conference Championships

SeasonConferenceRecordHead coach
2005Pac-12 Conference13–8John Rittman

Coaching staff

NamePosition coachedConsecutive 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-TrejoAssistant coach2nd
Jolene HendersonAssistant coach1st
Caleb FeistDirector of operations5th
Reference:

Head coaching record

Sources:

Record table
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Sandy Pearce (Independent) (1994–1994)
1994Sandy Pearce5–30
Sandy Pearce (Pac-10 Conference) (1995–1996)
1995Sandy Pearce15–371–278th
1996Sandy Pearce24–297–196th
Sandy Pearce:44–96 (.314)8–46 (.148)
John Rittman (Pac-10 Conference) (1997–2011)
1997John Rittman31–27–110–185th
1998John Rittman41–1817–113rdNCAA Regional
1999John Rittman40–2510–18T–6thNCAA Regional
2000John Rittman45–189–124thNCAA Regional
2001John Rittman54–16–111–10T–3rdWomen's College World Series (T–3rd)
2002John Rittman44–207–14T–6thNCAA Regional
2003John Rittman41–267–14T–6thNCAA Regional
2004John Rittman49–1913–8T–2ndWomen's College World Series (T–3rd)
2005John Rittman43–1613–8T–1stNCAA Super Regional
2006John Rittman42–1810–116thNCAA Super Regional
2007John Rittman35–21–17–13–16thNCAA Regional
2008John Rittman49–1511–104thNCAA Super Regional
2009John Rittman48–1113–84thNCAA Super Regional
2010John Rittman37–198–13T–6thNCAA Regional
2011John Rittman42–1710–115thNCAA Super Regional
John Rittman (Pac-12 Conference) (2012–2014)
2012John Rittman40–1911–136thNCAA Regional
2013John Rittman39–2113–114thNCAA Regional
2014John Rittman30–255–198th
John Rittman:750–351–3 (.681)185–222–1 (.455)
Rachel Hanson (Pac-12 Conference) (2015–2017)
2015Rachel Hanson17–372–229th
2016Rachel Hanson13–350–249th
2017Rachel Hanson19–322–229th
Rachel Hanson:49–104 (.320)4–68 (.056)
Jessica Allister (Pac-12 Conference) (2018–2024)
2018Jessica Allister24–313–218th
2019Jessica Allister32–188–135thNCAA Regional
2020Jessica Allister22–40–05thCanceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021Jessica Allister33–229–126thNCAA Regional
2022Jessica Allister39–2211–134thNCAA Super Regional
2023Jessica Allister47–1514–10T–4thWomen's College World Series (T–3rd)
2024Jessica Allister50–1717–32ndWomen's College World Series (T–3rd)
Jessica Allister (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2025–present)
2025Jessica Allister42–1316–8T–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