Titans' Anderson Named Grinnell College Softball Coach
UW-Oshkosh assistant softball coach Lynn Anderson was announced Tuesday (July 3) as the 15th head softball coach in Grinnell College (Iowa) history.
Anderson, who has been the top assistant to UW-Oshkosh head coach Scott Beyer for the past five seasons, will also serve as a faculty member and assistant coach in a second sport at Grinnell College.
"We are excited to have Lynn begin as our softball coach at Grinnell," said Grinnell College Director of Athletics and Recreation Andy Hamilton. "During the interview process, Lynn impressed people from all over campus and she certainly captivated our departmental search committee. Her background of progressive softball coaching experience at several playing levels should lend well to developing our players and growing our program. With educational training in sociology, gender and women's studies and athletic administration, Lynn is also poised to mature as a faculty member."
Anderson, a former softball captain at NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin, worked primarily with hitting and the outfielders at UW-Oshkosh. She helped the Titans to a 138-63 record and NCAA Division III postseason appearances in 2017 and 2018.
Anderson's previous experiences have included instructing at the Milwaukee Brewers Summer Camp, a volunteer coaching post at the University of Wisconsin and a graduate assistant coaching position at NCAA Division I Valparaiso University (Ind.).
As a player, Anderson was a walk-on who went on to letter four years while playing shortstop for the University of Wisconsin. She was a team captain in 2008 and voted the team's Defensive Player of the Year. Anderson led the Badgers in home runs (nine), total bases (68), slugging percentage (.489) and assists (118) in 2008 while ranking second on the team in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits and RBIs.
Anderson is tied for fourth on the Badgers' record board for single-season home runs and fifth in career assists with 311. Anderson was a member of the 2005 University of Wisconsin squad that made the program's third NCAA Division I postseason appearance.
Anderson graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2008 (December) with a double major, earning a bachelor's degrees in sociology and a criminal justice certificate. She gained her master's degree in sports administration from Valparaiso University in 2011 (December).
"I am thrilled to join the Grinnell College family," said Anderson. "First, I want to thank Darryl Sims, Vicci Stimac and Scott Beyer for the wonderful opportunity over the past five years at UW-Oshkosh. I will miss the student-athletes, but wish the softball program and athletic department all the best in their endeavors. Also, thank you to Mike Latham, Andy Hamilton and the rest of the hiring committee for this amazing opportunity."
Anderson inherits a Grinnell College team that set a school record for wins with 24 (24-14 record) in 2018 and qualified for the Midwest Conference Tournament for the first time since 2006. The Pioneers broke 14 individual career, 16 individual season, eight individual game, 13 team season and five team game marks in 2018 and boasted the program's first All-American in freshman pitcher/utility player Darice Wheeler.
Anderson replaces Amanda Reckamp, who served as Grinnell College's head softball coach since 2011.
(Courtesy of Ted Schultz, Grinnell College Sports Information)