Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Women's Softball

Ferguson enters her 11th season as head softball coach for the Sagehens in 2017. Since her arrival at Pomona-Pitzer, Ferguson has successfully turned the program around, culminating in the winningest season in school history in 2012, when the Sagehens were 22-19 overall, 15-9 in the SCIAC and qualified for the conference tournament. The 22 wins broke the previous high of 21, which was also set under Ferguson in 2008, when the Sagehens surpassed all expectations with a 21-19 record. The team went on to compete in the first ever post-season SCIAC tournament, where they upset top-seeded and nationally ranked University of Redlands in the first round 5-1. Ultimately, the squad finished third in the tournament. The Sagehens have had five different players earn NFCA All-Region honors in the last six years under Ferguson's guidance, including Alexis Garcia, Alyssa Corley, Leah Bleichner, Ashley Morello, and Kelsey Buchanan. During Fergusons reign at Pomona-Pitzer the team has posted a number of Academic All-Americans and has consistently ranked nationally in team GPA. In 2013, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association recognized the Sagehens with the second-highest team GPA in Division III, surpassing its previous high of fourth in 2011.  Prior to joining the Sagehens, Ferguson coached NCAA Division I at George Washington University for two years. In 2006, George Washington's fourth year of the program and Ferguson's second at the helm, she led the Colonials to a program-best record of 24-28 and a respectable win over in-town ACC rival University of Maryland. Before her tenure at George Washington, Ferguson served as the head softball coach at Kenyon College, a Division III school in Gambier, Ohio, from 2000-04. During her tenure at Kenyon, the team posted a 17-15 mark in 2004, the squad's first winning season. For her efforts, Ferguson was named the 2004 North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. A native of Clarksburg, MD, Ferguson began her coaching career as an assistant at the University of Virginia from 1997-2000, while earning her master's degree in sport psychology. During that time she helped lead the Cavaliers to appearances in three consecutive ACC championship games. As a player, Ferguson was a switch-hitting catcher and first baseman for Shippensburg University from 1992-1996. The Raiders posted a combined record of 103-67-1 during her four years on the squad. Ferguson finished her career with a .275 batting average and was an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) performer. She was also the team's captain during her senior campaign. Ferguson graduated from Shippensburg in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in coaching.

Julie Smith enters her fourth season as an assistant coach for the Pomona-Pitzer Softball team in 2022. Smith previously spent 11 seasons as the head coach of the University of La Verne softball team.  Under Smith's leadership, the Leopards won three SCIAC Regular Season Championships, three SCIAC Postseason Titles, made four appearances in the NCAA playoffs, and made nine SCIAC Postseason Tournament appearances. During her time at La Verne, Smith has mentored: 2 All-Americans16 All-West Region selections3 SCIAC Player of the Year36 First Team All-SCIAC selections Since coaching at Pomona-Pitzer, the team has amassed great statistics: ~3 SCIAC Tourney Appearances ~1 All-American ~1 SCIAC Player of the Year ~11 First Team All SCIAC selections ~NCAA Most Double Plays per inning  Smith has amassed over 20 years of coaching experience from the club level (all age groups), professional, and collegiate ranks. She has also mentored many student-athletes on the recruitment process. She also spent the 2005 season as general manager and head coach of the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut franchise of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). A decorated softball player at the collegiate, national, international, and professional levels, Smith was the starting second baseman on the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team that captured the gold medal in Atlanta. She also was a member of two World Championship teams and three Pan American squads that earned gold medals. Smith was a member of Texas A&M's 1987 NCAA national championship squad as a freshman. She also earned All-America honors that season before transferring to Fresno State. At Fresno State, she would go on to earn All-America honors in 1990 and 1991 while helping the Bulldogs to an NCAA second-place finish in '90. Smith was named Fresno State's Female Athlete of the Year in 1991 and earned a spot on the NCAA 25th Anniversary Team in 2006. Smith is a member of two Halls of Fame. She was inducted into Charter Oak High School's Hall of Fame in 2010 and in November 2013, Smith was selected to the City of Fresno Hall of Fame.