KJ Kelley

On Sept. 3, 2013, Athletic Director Roger Thomas announced former NCAA Division I All-American and professional softball player Katherine "KJ" Kelley as the Head Coach of the University of Mary softball 
 
A native of Rainier, OR, Kelley joins the Marauders after four years as the assistant coach at the University of Toledo and one year as an assistant at the University of Vermont. Kelley began her coaching career at her alma mater, serving on the staff for one season at the University of Massachusetts under hall of fame coach Elaine Sortino.
 
"KJ Kelley brings an impressive amount of experience as a coach and as a player to the University of Mary," said Thomas. "Not only has she competed at a high level, she has also coached extensively at the NCAA Division I level. KJ has had tremendous mentors as a player and a coach and we believe she can raise the level of our already successful Marauders softball program."
 
"It is a great honor and privilege to be working at the University of Mary and I'm very grateful for this opportunity," said Kelley. "I would like to thank Roger Thomas and Monsignor James Shea for this blessing to be a part of the U-Mary family and the dynamic community of Bismarck. I look forward to building a successful program that will compete not only in the Northern Sun but on the national level as well."
 
In her first season at U-Mary, the Marauders finished 2014 with a record of 33-22 overall and 15-11 in the Northern Sun. The Marauders finished fourth at the NSIC tournament.

With 33 wins this season, the Marauders surpassed their previous highest win total of 31, set in 2008 and 2010, since transitioning to NCAA Division II in 2006. In that same period, U-Mary set program bests for batting average (.339), on-base percentage (.396), slugging percentage (.509) and home runs (51). The Marauders pitchers also set a record in that span striking out 339 batters, 20 more than they have any of their previous seasons since joining DII.

Four players earned a spot on the All-NSIC team and four were honored on the NSIC all-academic team. Additionally, Allison Brown earned a spot on the Daktronics All-American third team. 

Kelley spent four seasons as the assistant coach at Toledo (2009-13), where she held the responsibilities of co-head coach. She oversaw the infielder, catchers and hitters and assisted with the pitchers and outfielders. Kelley also led the team's recruiting efforts. After the Rockets won just 20 games total in her first two seasons at Toledo, the squad jumped to 18 wins in 2012, the most for the school since 2005. Toledo also advanced to the Mid-America Conference tournament in 2012 and 2013, the first postseason conference appearances for the program since 1996. Additionally Toledo won a postseason game this spring for the first time since 1996.
 
Working with Toledo head coach Tarrah Beyster, the Rockets set records for most RBI (202) and highest slugging percentage (.397), and recorded the second highest batting average (.285) in program history last spring. The 2013 team also scored 227 runs, which ranks third on the all-time list.
 
Kelley initially began coaching with Beyster at the University of Vermont during the 2008-09 season, where she handled the catchers and the outfielders. In Kelley's one season with the Catamounts, single game school records were set for runs scored, hits, doubles and total bases. The outfielders also recorded the most assists in program history since 1999.
 
Kelley started her collegiate coaching career at UMass during the 2006-07 season, assisting Sortino in all facets of the program with an emphasis on the catchers, outfielders and hitters. Sortino won over 1,100 games in 34 seasons at UMass and captured 23 regular season and 23 conference tournament titles while never posting a losing record.
 
A four-time Atlantic-10 all-conference selection and all-tournament performer and a three-time NFCA all-region selection at UMass from 2002-06, Kelley started her first two seasons at third base before moving to catcher during her junior and senior years for the Minutewomen. The 2005 first-team Easton All-American catcher set a then-single season team and A-10 home run record with 14. The two-time team captain finished her career with 41 career home runs, 153 RBIs, a career batting average of .335, an on-base percentage of .451 and a .615 slugging percentage. She led UMass to four conference titles, four trips to the NCAA tournament and one trip to an NCAA Super Regional. She remains the Minutewomen's career home run leader, is second in RBIs and is third in slugging and on-base percentage. Five times at UMass Kelley hit two home runs in a single game. She recorded 50 multi-hit games and 38 multi-RBI games in her career. Defensively Kelley led the A-10 in pickoffs and runners caught stealing in 2005 and 2006.
 
Kelley graduated from UMass in 2006 with a bachelor of science degree in sport management. She then played three seasons with the New England Riptide in the National Pro Fastpitch league from 2006-08. In 2006, as the team's starting catcher, she batted .250 with three home runs and 15 RBI and helped the Riptide win the NPF title.