ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bill Fusco announced on Monday the hiring of Jennifer Bridges as head coach of the Sonoma State University softball program. Bridges comes to the Seawolves from Whittier College, where she spent the last two seasons as head coach.
"Jennifer Bridges brings an excellent softball coaching and playing background to Sonoma State University as our new head coach," said Fusco, "Her experience as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level and her success as the coach at Whittier College makes her a great fit to lead our program."
As head coach at Whittier in 2008 and 2009, Bridges led the Poets to unprecedented levels of success, including the program's first ever conference tournament appearance this past spring. Her two-year record at Whittier was 45-35 and the squad's 24 wins in '09 were the most for the program since 1987.
In addition to her coaching duties, Bridges also served as an Assistant Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator at Whittier.
Prior to taking the reigns at Whittier, Bridges spent four seasons (2004-2007) as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego. She also coached the University of San Diego High School squad in 2002 and 2003.
Bridges played NCAA Division I softball at the University of San Diego and was her team's captain as a junior and senior.
A graduate of the University of San Diego with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Bridges earned her Master's Degree in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University.
Bridges replaces Jaime Wallin, who was hired as the head coach at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. The Seawolves will return many starters from a team that went 36-25 and qualified for the NCAA West Regional for the second time in three seasons.
TRANSACTION: Jennifer Bridges named Head Softball Coach at Sonoma State University.