Minnesota State University Moorhead Women's Softball

Vanessa Kellems was hired in July 2024 as the 17th head softball coach in MSU Moorhead history. She begins her third season at the helm in the fall of 2026.  The Dragons went 9-44 overall in the spring of 2026, winning seven NSIC contests. Senior Teagan Pranchke was named to the All-NSIC Second Team after hitting for a .333 average and a team-high 49 hits. Kellems navigated an incredibly young roster that fielded 11 freshman and just four seniors. Moorhead's earmark victory came over (RV) Missouri Southern on March 12 behind a game-winning home run from Lacey Camden. In her first season, Kellems only upheld the standard of success within MSUM softball. The Dragons went 20-37 overall with Kellems earning her first victory over Minot State on January 31. MSUM would win 11 NSIC games in 2025 and the season would come full circle as the Dragons again qualified for the NSIC Tournament. For the third consecutive season, MSUM collected a postseason win, defeating the aforementioned Beavers on April 30. Seniors Avery Steffen and Eliya Johnson were named All-NSIC First Team performers while Steffen became the second player in program history to garner NFCA All-Region distinction. Steffen reset MSUM single-season records in hits, runs scored and stolen bases in 2025. Additionally, senior Annika Norman became the program's all-time hits leader in 2025.  Kellems comes to Moorhead following a stint at the University of Saint Katherine in San Marcos, Calif. She served as the head assistant for the Firebird program, primarily working as the hitting coach. She also developed a film analysis program for hitters and fielders.    Prior to her work at Saint Katherine, Kellems was the head softball coach at Westcliff University in Irvine, Calif., from 2021 until 2023. In her tenure, Kellems led the Warriors to 50 wins over her first two seasons at the helm.    She helped guide Westcliff to a 32-20 record in 2023 which included a 19-9 mark in league play. The Warriors hit for a .311 average that season while scoring 260 runs. In total, Kellems helped 13 Warriors to All-Cal Pac honors including one Cal Pac Player of the Year in 2023.    Kellems began her head coaching career at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif., in 2019 until leaving for Westcliff in 2021. In her first season as head coach, Kellems navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and pushed the Griffins to a 12-6 mark in a condensed season. Kellems served as assistant coach at Grossmont in 2015-16 and was a volunteer assistant for the program in 2018 until she moved into the head coaching role.    As a player, Kellems was a stalwart for South Dakota State from 2012 until completing her degree in 2015. Kellems played in 108 games for the Jackrabbits in her career, primarily playing on the infield. She wrapped her collegiate career with an impressive .941 fielding percentage with only five errors committed in her 108 games.    The La Mesa, Calif., native earned her bachelor’s degree in health education from South Dakota State in 2015. She went on to complete her Masters in exercise science at Northern Colorado in 2018. Kellems earned her second Masters degree in inspired teaching & learning through leadership from National University. She is currently in the process of earning her Doctorate in leadership from Westcliff University.   

Samantha Whitworth is entering her second season as an Assistant Coach and Pitching Coach for the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball program. She plays an integral role in team operations, recruiting, alumni relations and community engagement. Whitworth assists extensively with team travel, including the creation of itineraries and the completion of travel authorizations to ensure efficient and organized travel experiences for student-athletes and staff. She is also heavily involved in recruiting, with a primary focus on the Midwest region. Through intentional relationship-building and increased program visibility, she has helped MSUM establish stronger regional connections and has been instrumental in bringing in several high-level Midwest recruits for the 2026 class. As the program’s pitching coach, Whitworth is committed to developing confident, competitive pitchers. She works closely with the head coach to design individualized pitching practice plans that address each pitcher’s specific areas for growth while continuing to push and maximize their strengths. In her first season in the role, MSUM posted a 4.85 team ERA in conference play, highlighted early in the season when Avery Steffen earned NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors during the opening week of competition. Whitworth’s core values as a coach are honesty, genuineness, and authenticity. Her primary goal is to build confidence in the young women she coaches—both on and off the field—by fostering trust, accountability, and belief in their abilities. In addition to her on-field responsibilities, Whitworth is fully responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of MSUM Softball alumni appreciation events. She serves as the primary point of contact for alumni, working to strengthen relationships and foster long-term engagement with the program. She also assists in planning fundraising events that directly support student-athletes by providing access to additional gear and enhanced travel opportunities. Whitworth is passionate about community involvement and has played a key role in strengthening MSUM Softball’s connection with local organizations. Drawing from her previous support of the American Legion in Encinitas, California, she has helped encourage a growing relationship with the local VFW. She is also committed to building meaningful connections with youth in the Moorhead community and is set to take the lead on the MSUM Softball bat girl position beginning with the 2026 season. During the summer, Whitworth continues to grow as a coach and mentor, serving as the head coach for a local 12U travel softball team. Her dedication to player development, relationship-building and program growth reflects her commitment to supporting MSUM Softball both on and off the field. Prior to joining MSUM, Whitworth served as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Saint Katherine, where she primarily worked with pitchers. In that role, she placed a strong emphasis on mental health, confidence-building, and developing resilience on the mound and in life. As a student- athlete at Saint Katherine, Whitworth was a member of the 2021 Cal Pac Conference Championship team and was named her team’s Champion of Character in 2022. Whitworth earned her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and her Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Saint Katherine.