UMR Softball Coaching Staff

DON KENNEDY returns for his second season as the head coach of the Lady Miner softball program after guiding UMR to its first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2007.

A strong finish to the season -- with wins in 13 of its last 19 regular season games -- that resulted in third place finishes in both the conference standings and Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, helped land UMR into the Great Lakes Regional in Romeoville, Ill. The Lady Miners then proceeded to win their first game in the tournament over host Lewis University before dropping the next two, the latter being a 13-inning loss to eventual regional runner-up Grand Valley State.

UMR finished the 2007 season with a record of 29-18, which included marks of 13-9 in GLVC play and a 5-2 mark against nationally ranked team. The Lady Miners swept Lewis when the Flyers were ranked seventh nationally and later split a twinbill over a Southern Illinois Edwardsville team that went on to win the NCAA Division II title. UMR handed the Cougars their final loss of the season with an 8-0 victory on April 22.

The successful season also helped UMR land its first All-America performers in school history, as second baseman Kandi Wieberg made the Daktronics team as a first-team selection and the NFCA's squad on the second team and outfielder Ashley Winter was named to the NFCA third team. Wieberg was also named as the GLVC's "Player of the Year" and "Student-Athlete of the Year" for the 2007 season and was one of three all-region performers along with Winter and outfielder Emily Tucker.

Kennedy came to UMR after spending 11 seasons assisting the successful softball team at the University of Central Missouri. A 1993 graduate of UCM with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Kennedy joined the Central staff as a volunteer assistant with the women's basketball program, then started working with the softball team in the 1995 season. He did the bulk of his work with the catchers and outfielders.

During his 11 years at Central, the Jennies posted a record of 369-208 (.640 winning percentage) and four regular season titles in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Central also won the MIAA Tournament in 1995 and 1997 and went on to a second place finishes in the NCAA regional tournament in each of those years. It also finished second in two other MIAA Tournaments, including the 2004 event where it eliminated UMR in an 18-inning classic to reach the championship game.

Kennedy spent the 2001 season as the head coach at Hutchinson Community College before returning to UCM in 2002, where he assisted Rhesa Sumrell for her final five seasons as head coach before she retired following the 2006 season.

In addition to his coaching duties at Central, Kennedy was also in charge of the daily maintenance of the school's South Recreation complex where UCM's home field was located.

Kennedy, who has several years of experience as a player in men's fastpitch softball, also earned his master's degree at UCM in 1999.

Dept. of Intercollegiate Athletics
705 West 10th St.
Rolla, Mo. 65401-0340
Phone: (573) 341-4175
Fax: (573) 341-4880
Email: sports@mst.edu