Mackenzie Keyes - Softball Coach - University of Connecticut Athletics

Photo by: UConn Athletics

Mackenzie Keyes

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
mackenzie.keyes@uconn.edu

Mackenzie Keyes joined Laura Valentino's staff in 2023 and enters her fourth year as the Huskies hitting coach in 2026-27. Keyes also serves as the Huskies recruiting coordinator.

UConn enjoyed another successful season under Keyes in 2026, capturing the BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championship, and earning consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 1995-96. At the College Station Regional, UConn earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 2001, defeating McNeese State, 5-1. Keyes coached five Huskies to All-BIG EAST honors, including Cat Petteys to the BIG EAST Player of the Year award, marking the third straight year a UConn player has won the award. She also coached three student-athletes to NFCA All-Region selections. Under her guidance, UConn set new single season school records for doubles (98) and walks (247). Keyes also coached Petteys to a program record 159 total bases in 2026. In just two seasons, Petteys broke the program record for career home runs with 35.

In 2025 Keyes led the Huskies to an historic season offensively, surpassing six team single season program records, finishing as one of the top offenses in the country. Keyes coached seven players to All-BIG EAST honors including, the BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Year awards. She also coached four players to NFCA All-Region selections, the second most in a season in program history. Keyes had three players surpass the previous single season home run record (13), in Grace Jenkins (21), Kaitlyn Breslin (16), and Cat Petteys (15). Keyes also had seven players record a batting average above .300. In route to the program's ninth BIG EAST Tournament title, Keyes offense shined in the tournament, outscoring their opponents 35-9 in three games. In the Championship game, the Huskies offense scored BIG EAST Tournament record 18 runs, with 12 runs coming in the second inning. Under Keyes, the Huskies set new single season program high marks in team batting average (.321), runs scored (387), home runs (77), doubles (89), RBI (363), walks (195), and total bases (829). She and the coaching staff were named NFCA East Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.

In Keyes first season as the hitting coach, she was instrumental in the Huskies success at the plate, coaching four players above a .300 batting average, and five players with six or more home runs. Under her guidance, UConn tied the program record for doubles (73) that was set in 2008. The Huskies also totaled 40 home runs, the most in a season since 2012. Keyes coached four Husky hitters to All-BIG EAST honors, including the BIG EAST Player of the Year in Lexi Hastings.

Keyes joined Laura Valentino’s staff as an assistant coach in July of 2023. Keyes previously served as the Head Coach at Trinity College for one season. Under Keyes, Trinity qualified for the NESCAC Championship Tournament for the eleventh time in program history.

Before Trinity, Keyes served as an assistant coach at Williams College for five seasons. Keyes helped the Ephs win the 2018 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title, NCAA Regional championships in 2018 and 2019, and an NCAA Super Regional in 2019, which resulted in an appearance in the 2019 National Championship Tournament.

Keyes earned her bachelor's degree in communications from Central Connecticut State University in 2016, where she helped the Blue Devils win conference titles in 2013 and 2015. Additionally, she earned a master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was a graduate assistant in athletic communications.