University of Connecticut Athletics
Softball Coaching Staff Named NFCA East Regional Coaching Staff of the Year
6/6/2025 12:26:00 PM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An historic season for the UConn softball program awarded the Huskies coaching staff the NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year for the East region, announced on Friday afternoon.
The Huskies staff becomes one of just ten coaching staffs to be honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, as each region is voted on by their peers. UConn is now eligible for the National Coaching Staff of the Year award, announced on June 19.
The staff consisting of head coach Laura Valentino, and assistant's, Mackenzie Keyes, Giselle Juarez, and Ashley Buschgans led the Huskies to a 35-19 record and the program's first BIG EAST Tournament Championship since 2001, earning UConn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies cruised their way to the program's ninth BIG EAST Tournament title, going 3-0 in the tournament, and outscoring their opponents 35-9. The NCAA Tournament appearance marked the ninth in program history and first since 2001.
In her sixth season as head coach, Valentino and her staff guided the Huskies to a record-breaking season, surpassing six single season team program records and six individual single season records. As a team, UConn set new program high marks in batting average (.321), runs scored (387), home runs (77), doubles (89), RBI (363), walks (195), and total bases (829). Three Huskies each surpassed the previous single season home runs (13) and RBI (47) records, while two Huskies surpassed the previous runs (63) and walks (29) records that were set prior to the 2025 season.
Under Valentino, five Huskies earned BIG EAST First Team honors, a league best, as UConn totaled seven all-conference honorees, and claimed the BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Year awards. This is the second consecutive season UConn has produced BIG EAST Player of the Year winners. Valentino has now coached three players to BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors and has placed 24 student-athletes on All-BIG EAST Teams across her six seasons at UConn.
UConn also placed four student-athletes to NFCA All-Region teams, the second most in a season in program history.
UConn once again put together a dominant regular season in BIG EAST play, posting an 18-6 record, outscoring their opponents 213-120. The Huskies led the conference in almost every offensive statistical category, while ranking in the top 25 nationally in scoring (14th), home runs (19th), home runs per game (13th), RBI (18th), RBI per game (13th), total runs (22nd), doubles per game (14th), and slugging percentage (20th).
The BIG EAST Player of the Year, Grace Jenkins led the charge for the Huskies at the plate this season, breaking six single season program records; home runs (21), doubles (19), RBI (68), runs scored (65), walks (39), and total bases (154). She posted the second highest marks in hits (72), and batting average (.424) in a season in UConn history.
The BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Cat Petteys had one of the best campaigns by a freshman in program history, posting an impressive .400 batting average while slugging 15 home runs, and driving in 48 RBI, all rookie program highs. Petteys was recently named a Second Team Freshman All-American by D1 Softball.
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