Linfield College Women's Softball

Emily Allen is in her fourth year as assistant softball coach at Linfield.   Allen was a two-time all-West Region and all-Northwest Conference catcher for the Wildcats, competing from 2015 until 2018. She was a member of Linfield's 2015 team that placed third in the nation and the 2018 squad that captured the Northwest Conference championship.   A three-year starter, Allen recorded a .381 career batting average and a .988 career fielding percentage.   After completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business management in 2018, Allen worked as an account manager in team sales at Ringor, a softball footwear supply company. In 2019, she transitioned to a gearUP Sports, working as a sales representative and baseball/softball category manager.   Allen has served as an assistant softball coach at Aloha High School and at the youth club level with The Bat Company. She also tutored young softball players through private hitting and catching lessons.   She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist.

Jamie Vasas is in his third year as an assistant coach with the Linfield softball program. Vasas came to Linfield with extensive club softball coaching experience in the Willamette Valley. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach with the McNary High School softball program.   Vasas began his softball coaching career in 2014, leading the 10U Oregon Panthers. That year, he guided his team to the 10A State Tournament before finishing third at the ASA National Championship in Stockton, Calif. The following year, he led 12U NW Bullets, placing third at the 12A State Tournament. In 2016, his Oregon Titans club achieved a runner-up state tournament finish.   In 2017, he helped launch new a club softball program called the NW Vandals. Since its formation, the NW Vandals program has grown fivefold, increasing from two teams to 10 “Class A” level squads as of 2023.   He’s also been an assistant baseball and football coach in the Salem/Keizer area.   Professionally, Vasas spent 26 years in the Salem Police Department, including serving as a patrol officer, school resource officer, robbery and homicide detective and SWAT team member.  

Jordan Bennett is is her third season as an assistant coach for the Linfield University softball program.  She primarily works with the outfielders, scouting and assists in the weight room with strength and conditioning.     Bennett enjoyed a distinguished four-year playing career with the Wildcats. As a pitcher and pinch runner for the Linfield “Catball” program, she appeared in 56 games, posting a 7–1 record in the circle and earning Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Week honors during both her freshman and sophomore seasons. During her collegiate career, Bennett contributed to three consecutive Northwest Conference championships and three NCAA postseason appearances, while also scoring 18 runs as a pinch runner.     A native of San Jose, California, Bennett is a graduate of Leland High School, where she was a four-year letterwinner, two-year team captain, and an instrumental leader in her team’s CCS playoff run. She set a school record with 92 strikeouts as a senior. Ending with a 3.85 GPA, she earned an academic scholarship to Linfield. Beyond high school, Bennett competed with the San Jose Sting travel program from the age of 10U to 18U levels and spent her summers volunteering as an assistant coach for 12U and 14U younger Sting teams.     In addition to her coaching and playing experience, Bennett has worked for two athletic performance organizations, Sensory Speed in Campbell, California, and Kinetic Performance Institute (KPI) in Morgan Hill, California, where she supported athlete development and strength training programs. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a minor in psychology from Linfield in 2023. 

Jackson Vaughan is in his 19th season as defensive coordinator and 29th on the coaching staff. He oversees the defensive line after previously working with the linebackers and offensive line. Vaughan directs a defense that has led the Northwest Conference in rushing defense 18 times and sacks 18 times over the last 22 years. In 2015, he was honored as the NCAA Division III Defensive Coordinator of the Year by website FootballScoop. Vaughan received a bachelor's degree from Linfield in 1997. He participated in football for one year before suffering a career-ending injury. As a student, he was involved with the campus radio station, broadcasting Linfield football and basketball games as a sophomore. He joined the coaching staff as a junior. Vaughan is also Linfield's head softball coach, where he has assembled an 894-206-2 record in 24 seasons. He has been named Northwest Conference Coach of the Year 13 times, West Region Coach of the Year seven times, and NCAA Division III Coach of the Year twice after guiding Linfield to 18 league titles and the 2007 and 2011 NCAA Division III national championships. A native of Hereford, Ore., Vaughan received his diploma from Baker High School where he was the Greater Oregon League Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. He and his wife, Shelly, live in McMinnville, with their three daughters, Hallie, Reese and Finley.