Eastern Kentucky University Women's Softball

Worthington has been committed to the success of Eastern Kentucky softball since its inception in 1993, and the rewards continue to mount. The 2016 season will be the 24th for the Washington, Utah native with the Colonels.  She has guided the squad to two Ohio Valley Conference titles (2002, 2004) and two NCAA tournament appearances (2002, 2004).   In 2014, Worthington tallied her 600th career victory when the Colonels downed Tennessee Tech on April 26.  She has led Eastern to a spot in 19 of the 22 OVC tournaments since the event began in 1994.  Now, with 626 career coaching victories to her credit Worthington is more than a quarter of the way to win No. 700.   Since taking over the helm of the Colonels program, Worthington has posted an impressive 626-597 overall mark and an even more striking 309-224 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play.  Throughout her career, Worthington has produced several standout players as three Colonels have been named OVC Player of the Year and four players have earned Freshman of the Year recognition. Thirty-five All-OVC first team players and 33 second team selections have worn an EKU jersey as well.   Under Worthingtons guidance Leanna Pittsenbarger put together a record breaking career.  Before the start of the 2015 season, Pittsenbarger was rated as the top NCAA Division I pitcher by Fastpitch News.  She would go on to break the EKU record for career strikeouts. Worthington maintains that the only way to improve is to play the best possible teams in the country. Her Eastern squads have faced numerous nationally-ranked opponents, which includes a satisfying 6-5 upset over No. 5 Missouri four years ago.  Last season, the Colonels took on No. 3 Alabama and beat 23rd ranked South Alabama 1-0.  EKU also faced top-15 teams Kentucky and Tennessee. Other notable games include a 4-3 victory over No. 7 South Carolina in 1995 and a showdown with top-ranked UCLA in the 2002 NCAA regionals. Worthington, the only coach in the programs history, has built the program from the ground up, starting in her first year at EKU with the construction of Gertrude Hood Field. Easterns first season of competition occurred in the spring of 1993 with Worthington leading the team to an 11-26 record. In just its third year, the program posted its first-ever winning season (31-29) and advanced to the finals of the OVC tournament. Worthington then led Eastern Kentucky to another winning season in 1998, ending with 38 wins, and reached a career milestone with her 200th victory in 2001. The 2002 Colonels rolled through the league with a 16-2 conference record and captured the programs first OVC title with a 7-4 victory over Tennessee Tech. That win also propelled Eastern Kentucky to its first-ever NCAA tournament. Two years later, EKU posted its most wins ever (42) on the way to another NCAA tournament appearance. Worthington won OVC Coach of the Year accolades in both 2002 and 2004. Worthingtons 400th career win at Eastern Kentucky came as the Colonels advanced to the title contest of the 2006 conference championship. She reached another milestone on March 20, 2011 when she picked up her 500th career victory thanks to a 9-4 triumph over Austin Peay. Prior to Eastern Kentucky, Worthington spent two years as an assistant coach at Miami (Ohio) and one year as an assistant at Livingston University in Alabama. Before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Worthington taught junior high school in Idaho. Worthington, a 1982 graduate of Utah State, helped the Aggies capture the 1981 national championship with a win over Cal-State Fullerton in the finals. Winning a championship as a player, Worthington knows what it takes to be a winner and has successfully instilled those beliefs in her players. As a result, a large number of her former players have followed her lead and entered the coaching profession. A strong supporter in the growth of fast-pitch softball in Kentucky, Worthington has provided numerous opportunities for individuals to enhance their softball skills at clinics and camps. On a yearly basis, she hosts player development clinics and camps to help fast-pitch softball develop throughout the state. Worthington believes in giving all players the chance to increase their skills and attempts to keep costs low so that everyone interested can attend. In addition, she believes in devoting personal attention to each participant and as a result, tries to keep the number of participants low by scheduling multiple events. Worthington has instructed more than 3,000 players at the Eastern Kentucky camps and clinics throughout the years and has helped raise the level of play in Kentucky and surrounding states. In 1996, Worthington was given the states Citizen for Sports Equity Outstanding College Coach Award. The Colonels coach also stresses the importance of academics and expects her players to excel in the classroom. Worthington feels that a balance can be achieved, and with good management skills, her student-athletes can succeed in the classroom and on the playing field. In 2013, Worthington was honored by the EKU Department of Athletics with the Coaches Academic Enhancement Award, which is given to a head coach who exceeds the standards and encourages academic excellence for his or her team. Hayley Flynn received the OVC Medal of Honor for recording a perfect 4.0 GPA in 2013-14. In 2002, Elise Burch became Easterns first softball Academic All-American. After graduation, Worthingtons past players have entered the professional fields of law, criminal justice, education, business, aviation and coaching. Worthington earned a masters degree in Sports Studies from Miami (Ohio) in 1991.  

Arion was a four-year starter in the infield for the Cardinals.  She earned All-Big East Conference honors as a freshman and a sophomore, was a second team All-American Athletic Conference choice in 2014 and capped her career by earning first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition as a senior.   Whitney loves softball, said Worthington.  She has competed at the top level and brings that experience with her to EKU.  She also brings outstanding intensity and energy.   As a senior, Arion hit .321 with four home runs, 27 RBIs and 32 runs scored.  She had a .489 slugging percentage and a .466 on-base percentage.   I'm excited to say I'm part of the family here at Eastern Kentucky University, Arion said.  I appreciate the opportunity that Jane Worthington has given me to help lead this program and Im looking forward to working with her and her staff.    Arion played in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the Pennsylvania Rebellion this summer.  She appeared in 38 games and started half of them at shortstop.  She posted a .208 batting average in 54 appearances and had a .963 fielding percentage.  Arion plans to play in the league next summer as well.  Arion previously worked with Louisville softball camps, university tours and visits, First Assembly of God Mega Sports Camp and has done private hitting and defensive lessons.