Truman State University Women's Softball

Ron Ferrill was selected as the Head Coach of the Truman State University Softball program in August of 2022 and is entering his fourth season with the Bulldogs. Ferrill has compiled a record of 66-91 in his three seasons at Truman while transforming the program both on and off the field. Recent Success at Truman Ferrill's third season in 2025 saw the Bulldogs post a 26-25 overall record and finish 14-14 in GLVC play, marking significant progress for the program. The team led the conference with a .327 team batting average and demonstrated offensive firepower throughout the season. Emily Wood earned First Team All-GLVC honors after posting a .399 batting average with 22 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, and 45 RBI. Cassie Smith and Avaree Taylor both earned Second Team All-GLVC recognition, with Smith leading the team with a .418 batting average and Taylor hitting .338 while also contributing as a pitcher. Five Bulldogs earned CSC Academic All-District honors: Cassie Smith, Caragan Baker, Charlotte Chellich, Kayln Jones, and Lily Arndt, demonstrating the program's commitment to excellence in both athletics and academics. In 2024, Ferrill's second season at the helm saw the squad reach the 20-win mark for the first time in five years while also qualifying for their first GLVC postseason tournament appearance since 2019. The Bulldogs finished the season with 23 victories, up six from year one, and finished .500 in conference play with a 13-13 record to earn the sixth seed in the tournament. The team swept seven doubleheaders with five coming during conference play. The Bulldogs also pushed nationally-ranked Indianapolis at home, having leads in both games of their doubleheader with the Greyhounds. Cassie Smith and Emily Wood both earned all-GLVC honors with Smith picking up a first-team choice as a utility player and Wood earning a second-team selection in the outfield. Wood garnered additional attention as she was placed on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association "Watch List" for Division II Player of the Year accolades during the season and was selected as an all-region pick. The team hit .273 with 69 doubles and 94 stolen bases. The 69 doubles tied for the fifth most in a Bulldog single-season and the 122 stolen base attempts cracked the top 10. On the mound, the Bulldogs improved their ERA from the previous season and their six saves were the second most in a single-season. Defensively, the Bulldogs posted the eighth-best single-season fielding percentage with a .968 mark. In his first season in 2023, the Bulldogs showed a dramatic increase in wins under Coach Ferrill, moving up from eight the previous year to 17. They also improved by four conference wins. The team had doubleheader sweeps over Lincoln and Southwest Baptist and closed the season with a sweep over William Jewell on Senior Day. The team went from 23 stolen bases in 2022 to 103 in 2023, demonstrating an aggressive offensive approach. The pitching staff also improved with a 5.43 ERA and recorded 16 complete games, up from only seven the season before. McKenzie West earned second-team all-GLVC honors as a designated player, hitting .340 in 44 games with three home runs and 23 RBI. Alex Beard led the team in hitting with a .347 average. Prior Experience Before arriving at Truman State, Ferrill served 12 seasons at St. Ambrose (Iowa) University where he compiled a record of 321-231-1. Ten players at St. Ambrose earned all-region honors under Coach Ferrill's tutelage and 41 players were selected to the all-MCC team during his tenure. He also coached the league's freshman of the year in 2016. After his only sub-.500 season in 2011, Ferrill guided the Bees to 25 or more victories in the seven seasons leading up to the COVID pandemic of 2020. In 2013, Ferrill led the Bees to their first Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) championship as they matched a school record with a 40-15 mark. He was named the MCC Coach of the Year for his efforts. In 2015, Ferrill began serving as head coach at Assumption (Iowa) High School in Davenport where his teams won four state titles, finished in the top three in the state tournament for seven consecutive years, and compiled an overall record of 293-36-1. His high school coaching accolades include being named State Coach of the Year (2019), All-Iowa Coach of the Year (2017), Conference Coach of the Year (2017, 2018, 2021), and District Coach of the Year (2015). Ferrill won a national championship in his first two years of coaching collegiate softball at Robert Morris University in Springfield, Illinois. He led the Lady Eagles to a second-place finish in 2009 and the USCAA Championship in 2010 with a record of 38-12. Ferrill is a graduate of Western Illinois University and a veteran who served in the United States Army. He is a native of Dallas City, Illinois. Ferrill Coaching Record Truman State 2025: 26-25 overall, 14-14 GLVC 2024: 23-29 - First GLVC Tournament appearance since 2019 2023: 17-37 - +9 increase in wins from previous season Truman State Total: 66-91 St. Ambrose 2022: 27-17 2021: 19-12 2020: 13-11 2019: 30-18 2018: 27-20 2017: 33-18 2016: 35-18 2015: 26-24-1 2014: 32-22 2013: 40-15 - MCC Conference Coach of the Year 2012: 29-27 2011: 10-29 St. Ambrose Total: 321-231-1 Assumption High School 2022: 36-9 - State runner-up 2021: 40-3 - State Champions, Conference Coach of the Year 2020: 21-6 - State third place 2019: 41-2 - State Champions, State Coach of the Year 2018: 39-3-1 - State Champions, Conference Coach of the Year 2017: 44-1 - State Champions, Conference & All-Iowa Coach of the Year 2016: 41-5 - State runner-up, Conference Coach of the Year 2015: 31-7 - District Coach of the Year Assumption HS Total: 293-36-1 Robert Morris 2010: 38-12 - USCAA National Champions 2009: 23-13 Robert Morris Total: 61-25 Overall Coaching Record: 25 Seasons, 741-383-2 Collegiate Record: 17 Seasons, 448-347-1

Josie Buhr began her first year as Truman State Assistant Softball Coach in the fall of 2025.  A native of Buffalo, North Dakota, Buhr brings an accomplished collegiate playing career and a strong competitive background to Kirksville. Buhr began her career at North Dakota State College of Science (2020–2022), where she was a Mon-Dak First Team All-Conference selection and a three-time Mon-Dak All-Academic honoree. She broke the program's single-season base-stealing record with 49 steals during the 2021–22 campaign and helped lead the Wildcats to back-to-back Region XIII Championships and consecutive NJCAA Division III National Tournament appearances. She then transferred to Kansas Wesleyan University, competing for the Coyotes in 2023 and 2024. In her first season, she earned KCAC First Team All-Conference, NFCA All-Region NAIA IV Second Team recognition, and was named KWU Female Newcomer of the Year. She capped her career with another All-Conference honor in 2024, earning Second Team status. In total, Buhr appeared in 219 collegiate games, recording 552 at-bats, 186 hits, 90 RBIs, and a career batting average of .337. She also added 78 stolen bases, 31 doubles, ten triples, and four home runs. Off the field, Buhr excelled academically. She graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice before going on to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Her academic discipline and balance as a student-athlete complement her competitive drive and leadership on the field. For Buhr, joining the Bulldogs came down to culture, mentorship, and opportunity. She cited Coach Ferrill's philosophy of focusing on "the little things" and maximizing effort both on and off the field as a major influence in her decision. "I really admire Coach Ferrill's approach to building not just better players, but better people," said Buhr. "I know this is the right place for me to continue learning and growing as a coach." She was also impressed by the Bulldogs' recent success, including leading the conference in both batting average and fielding percentage last season. "The competitive excellence and team culture at Truman State are exactly what I was looking for," Buhr added. "Combine that with the supportive Kirksville community, and this feels like the perfect fit." Head Coach Ron Ferrill said Buhr's background as a player and her mindset make her a strong addition to the program. "Josie is someone who knows what it takes to win and brings the work ethic, knowledge, and energy that will make a difference for our team," said Ferrill. "We're excited to welcome her to the Bulldog family."