CLINTON, Iowa - The Ashford University softball program and Head Coach Kyle Yore is proud to announce the addition of graduate assistant coach Karen Marie Peņa to the staff effective immediately.
Peņa, a native of East Moline, Ill., officially started working with the team on Monday. She will be assisting Yore in all facets of the program including recruiting and serving as a pitching staff specialist.
"We're extremely excited to have Karen Marie on board at Ashford," Yore said. "Her prowess as a standout pitcher is well documented on the high school and collegiate level and she will be a tremendous asset to our program."
Peņa starred at nearby Rock Island Alleman High School where she was a three-time Illinois High School all-state selection (1997, 1999-00). She currently is tied for the state record for the most strikeouts in a single game (38 in 22 innings vs. East Moline H.S.) and carried a 0.17 earned run average her junior year.
Peņa then went on to begin her collegiate career in Gainesville, Fla., at Santa Fe Community College before transferring after two years to Div. I Western Illinois University. She was a second-team all-conference honoree as a freshman and voted team MVP at Santa Fe before collecting first-team recognition as a sophomore.
With the Leathernecks in Macomb, Ill., Peņa played under Head Coach Kathy Veroni, one of the winningest coaches in college softball history with 869 career victories.
Peņa coached for two years (2008-09) at Davenport Central High School as an assistant junior varsity softball coach prior to coming on board at Ashford.
"I'm excited to join Ashford and contribute to help the program get to the next level," Peņa said. "After coaching at the high school level, my heart was set on coaching collegiately because of talent, maturity and control over student-athletes' progression."
While at Western Illinois, Peņa acquired her Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts in 2006. At Ashford, she is pursuing a second bachelor's degree in Education with an early childhood emphasis.
Peņa currently resides in East Moline.
View Peņa's bio here
