California State University - Long Beach Women's Softball

Sowder reached 300 wins, becoming just the eighth coach in Big West history to reach that milestone, and the is only current coach in the Big West to win that many games as a member of the conference. Overall, Sowder has compiled a 333-218 (.604) record, including a 141-69 (.671) record in Big West Conference games. In addition to six trips to the NCAA Tournament, she has led the 49ers to a trio of Big West Conference championships in 2008, 2012 and 2014. Sowder has never finished a season with a losing record, and ranks seventh all-time in career victories in the Big West. Under Sowder, offensive team records have become the norm. The 2014 squad became the first to finish a season batting over .300 at .306, and also set new records in scoring (318 runs), RBI (237) and doubles (74) while finishing just behind 2013s record home run mark of 53. Sowder earned Big West Coach of the Year honors in 2014 as Long Beach State outlasted UC Santa Barbara in a thrilling extra-inning victory to clinch a third Big West championship with Sowder at the helm. The 49ers have had 69 players received all-conference over the last nine years under Sowder. Behind Sowders leadership in 2012, the 49ers rallied from a slow start to win the Big West Conference title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. LBSU won 20 of its final 26 regular-season games, including a 16-5 Big West Conference record, to clinch the program's 21st NCAA Tournament berth. In 2011, Sowder blended a core group of returning players with a talented group of freshmen into a Big West Conference title contender. The 49ers finished the season with a 38-18 record, including a 15-6 conference mark that allowed the 49ers to finish in second place, one game behind conference champion Pacific. The 49ers' season, which included wins over four nationally-ranked teams, (No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 21 Baylor, No. 23 Fresno State, and No. 23 Houston) ended with the school's 20th trip to the NCAA Tournament. The 49ers opened the tournament with a win over San Diego State in the first round before dropping a pair of games, one to eventual national-champion Arizona State. Sowder saw her squad make its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009. Long Beach State finished the season with a 35-21 record, marking its eighth consecutive winning season. Eight players were named to the all-conference team, while Jennifer Griffin was tabbed the Big West Field Player of the Year and Petty earned co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors. In 2008, Sowder led LBSU to its sixth Big West Conference title and a NCAA Regional appearance. The 49ers reached the 40-win mark for just the eighth time in school history, finishing with a 40-17 record. LBSU was ranked 22nd and 23rd in the final USA Softball and NFCA polls, respectively. Sowder, who was tabbed the co-Big West Coach of the Year, also saw eight of her players earn all-conference recognition. In addition, freshman Brooke Turner, picked up All-America and All-West Region honors after being named the BWC Pitcher of the Year. Along with on-field accomplishments, the 49ers have also earned a number of accolades off the field, and are regularly honored with Academic All-Conference achievements. As the former Kim Kostyk, Sowder was a speedy, slick-fielding shortstop in her four years (1989-92) at LBSU. A 1991 third-team All-American, she helped the 49ers to three (1990-92) of their five trips to the NCAA Women's College World Series. She also earned second-team All-Big West honors as a junior in 1991 and was a Big West honorable-mention pick in 1992. The school's all-time stolen base leader (50), Sowder's 19 thefts in 1991 still ranks as the 49ers' single-season high. She also ranks in the top 10 in career at-bats (860), runs (96), hits (204) and sacrifices (52). Defensively, she holds three of the top four 49er single-season assist marks with 243 in 1992, 233 in 1990, and 214 in 1991. Sowder earned her undergraduate degree in marketing in 1993. She then went into the coaching ranks, serving two years as an assistant coach at Pacific. A product of Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, she resides with her husband, Shawn, and their two children, Zachary and Jacob, in Yorba Linda. Long Beach State hit four home runs to advance in the Eugene Regional against Fordham, but were... Alley Perkins drove in the tying run in the sixth inning, capping a comeback that saw Long Beach ... Third baseman Darian Tautalafua and starting pitcher Christina Clermont both picked up more... Long Beach State will make its 23rd NCAA Regional appearance in 2016, participating in the Eugene... Senior Darian Tautalafua and junior Christina Clermont both earned first-team All-Big West honors... Long Beach State will make its 23rd NCAA Regional appearance in 2016, as the Beach advanced to...

Long Beach State Athletics has announced Kendall Fearn will be the new head coach for Long Beach State Softball, replacing Kim Sowder who announced her retir...

Thanatharn returned to Long Beach State for the 2011 season after spending two seasons as an assistant coach under former 49er head coach Pete Manarino at UNLV. During her career, she has helped teams to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2012 Long Beach State team. She also helped coach UNLV to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, while working with outfielders and hitters. She also served as the team's recruiting coordinator. Thanatharn started her coaching career at Long Beach State in 2007 where she served as the team's director of operations/assistant coach for one season. She helped with coaching and administrative duties, while handling the conditioning program. A four-year letterwinner (2002, 2005-07) at Long Beach State, Thanatharn earned a double major in exercise science and sport psychology and coaching in 2006. She earned a master's in kinesiology with an option in sports management from Cal State University, Long Beach in 2008. Long Beach State hit four home runs to advance in the Eugene Regional against Fordham, but were... Alley Perkins drove in the tying run in the sixth inning, capping a comeback that saw Long Beach ... Third baseman Darian Tautalafua and starting pitcher Christina Clermont both picked up more... Long Beach State will make its 23rd NCAA Regional appearance in 2016, participating in the Eugene... Senior Darian Tautalafua and junior Christina Clermont both earned first-team All-Big West honors... Long Beach State will make its 23rd NCAA Regional appearance in 2016, as the Beach advanced to...

Emma Sellers joins the Long Beach State coaching staff prior to the 2026 season, returning to Southern California after an outstanding career as a player wit...

Tyler Heil was the first hire by new head coach Kendall Fearn, joining Long Beach State for his first season in July 2025. Heil comes to the Beach from Santa...

Shelby Miller was hired in August 2025 as an assistant coach, where she will work primarily with the pitching staff. Miller has spent the last four seasons a...