Pistole steps down to become San Diego's head coach
SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – Following a rapid five-year ascent that took Southern Oregon University to the top of the NAIA softball landscape,
Jessica Pistole has stepped down as the Raiders' head coach to accept the same position at University of San Diego.
USD, an NCAA Division I member of the West Coast Conference, announced its hiring of Pistole on Tuesday night.
She took over at SOU prior to the 2015 season and compiled a 219-82 record, making her the winningest coach in team history. She'll depart after delivering the Raiders' first national championship, an accomplishment that led to her being named the 2019 NAIA Softball Coach of the Year.
"It's incredibly difficult to leave the SOU community and the people I love," Pistole said. "Everyone who's been a part of this program will always be part of who I am because we truly are a family, and I'm so proud of what we've built together as a team, as a department and as a university. Our whole family is going to miss this community tremendously, but the things we've learned, the many memories we've made and the love we've felt here gives us confidence in being able to embark on this exciting new journey."
Pistole attended, competed and began her coaching career at another Southern California institution, Biola University. When she arrived in Ashland, the Raiders were on heels of a 15-23 campaign and had never appeared in the NAIA World Series. They advanced to three in a row under her leadership, going a combined 149-38 in those seasons.
The Raiders added three Cascade Conference regular-season and three CCC tournament titles during Pistole's tenure. She was a three-time CCC Coach of the Year, and this spring received the CCC Coach of Character award.
"Jess has created a remarkable softball program for us going forward," SOU Director of Athletics
Matt Sayre said. "She set high standards for the team's academic and competitive achievements and saw them through. She built resiliency and grit in the young women who were fortunate to have her as a coach. I'm proud she was our head coach the past five years and wish her nothing but the best in her career trajectory."