CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University softball head coach Jen Sewell has announced the hiring of Katie Griffith as the team’s pitching coach ahead of the 2024 season.

“We are truly excited to announce Katie Griffith as the new pitching coach here at SIU,” Sewell said. “This program has one of the richest histories in the country of pitching coaches, and Katie will extend that streak of smart, innovative coaches who can attract the top talent to Southern Illinois. I am blown away by her resume.”

Griffith, a St. Louis native, was previously the head coach at Webster University for the past five seasons, where she had three consecutive 20-win seasons from 2021-23.

During her time at Webster, Griffith was a two-time St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Coach of the Year (2021, 2022), and led her team to NCAA Regionals in 2021. The Gorloks had the SLIAC Player of the Year (2021), Pitcher of the Year (2022), and Freshman of the Year (2021, 2022) with Griffith at the helm.

Prior to arriving at Webster, Griffith was with the Gateway Grizzlies in Missouri from 2017-18, working in baseball operations and team media.

In 2016-17, the St. Louis native was the head softball coach and physical education instructor at Harvard-Westlake School.

“Top recruits will enjoy her unique path back to Division I,” Sewell said. “She’s pitched at the highest level and experienced both coaching softball and playing baseball in a one of a kind way. When we met with her we had an instant connection as a staff. She shares our vision of wanting to push the program on to an NCAA Regional final and to a first Super Regional appearance.”

As a player, Griffith had a successful career at the University of Georgia from 2004-06. The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Super Regionals in 2005, the same year the team was crowned as the SEC Champion. Griffith threw two perfect games, had a career ERA of 2.52, and was a one-time SEC Pitcher of the Week (3/22/04).

“First, I’d like to thank Coach Jen Sewell for this opportunity and welcoming me into the Saluki Softball family,” Griffith said. “I am thrilled to join this historic program where, for decades, dominant pitching staffs have been a key component to the winning tradition.”