Flash Points:

• Jessica O'Donnell has accepted an offer to become Saint Francis' Head Softball Coach.
• O'Donnell served the past five seasons as Associate Head Coach at Villanova.
• While at Villanova, O'Donnell worked with the infielders and catchers and helped the Wildcats to winning records in each of the last three seasons.
• During her time with the Wildcats, Villanova had 17 All-Big East selections, including three All-Big East infielders this past season.
• The Red Flash has won back-to-back NEC Championships, going undefeated in conference play in 2017 and 2018.

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University Athletes has welcomed Jessica O'Donnell as its new Softball Head Coach.  O'Donnell is set to lead the Red Flash after serving the last five seasons as the Associate Head Coach at Villanova University. 
 
"We are excited to welcome Jessica O'Donnell to the Red Flash Family and as our next Head Softball Coach," said Director of Athletics Susan Robinson Fruchtl.  "We believe Jessica is a great fit for Saint Francis University and that we are a great fit for her on many levels. Jessica shares many of the same values that we as an institution strive to uphold and she has prepared herself for this next step to be our head coach. We are confident that Jessica will continue the success that we have experienced and will be a great fit for our student-athletes. We are proud of our Softball program and what our team has accomplished.  We are excited for Jessica to mentor our student-athletes in a manner that will positively develop them as people and as student-athletes."
 
While at Villanova, O'Donnell worked with the infielders and catchers as well as day-to-day operations.  During O'Donnell's time at Villanova, the Wildcats increased their win total in each of her first four seasons on campus and achieved winning records in each of the last three seasons. Villanova earned 17 All-Big East selections, including eight First Team, two Big East Pitcher of the Year, one Big East Freshman of the Year and three NFCA All-Region selections during O'Donnell's tenure. 
 
"To say I'm excited and blessed is an understatement," said O'Donnell. "From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew this was a place I wanted to be a part of. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to lead the Red Flash Softball Program. I'd like to thank Susan Robinson Fruchtl, Erika Renwick, and the entire search committee for giving me the opportunity to build on the foundation and success Coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift has built over the last seven years. I know I have big shoes to fill, but I also know here at Saint Francis the support around the athletic department is unmatched and that makes this such an exciting place to be!"
 
O'Donnell helped the Wildcats to a 27-24-1 record in 2018, including a 10-8 mark in the Big East.  The Wildcats led the Big East with 73 doubles and ranked second in the league in runs, total bases, hits, triples, RBI, stolen bases and fielding percentage. 
 
Under O'Donnell's leadership, Wildcats senior shortstop Brittany Husk earned NFCA Mideast Region Second Team honors as well as First Team All-Big East accolades.  Freshman second baseman Angela Giampolo was a First Team All-Big East selection, while senior first baseman Nikki Alden was a Second Team All-Big East pick.
 
Prior to her time at Villanova, O'Donnell spent two seasons as an assistant at Francis Marion University, where she coached the infielders and handled operations duties.
 
O'Donnell began her coaching career at the Community College of Baltimore in Catonsville and worked with the Florida Pride professional softball team in 2011.
 
The Pasadena, Md. native began her playing career at CCBC, earning All-Conference, All-Region and NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete honors before transferring to UMBC.  She served as a three-year starter at shortstop.  O'Donnell was a three-time member of the America East Honor Roll and was a team captain in 2009.  She graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor's Degree in American Studies.
 
O'Donnell takes over a Red Flash Softball program that has won back-to-back NEC Titles.  The Red Flash went 39-19 in 2018, including a perfect 16-0 record in the NEC regular season and a 3-0 mark in the NEC Tournament.  SFU went undefeated in NEC play for the second straight season and currently holds the nation's longest conference win streak at 38 games, the fourth-longest conference win streak in NCAA Division I history. 
 
Saint Francis played in the NCAA Tucson Regional for the second straight year, this time as the No. 4 seed.  SFU fell 1-0 against No. 14 Arizona, despite out-hitting the Wildcats, 4-2.  The Red Flash faced No. 2 seed Mississippi State in its second game, but fell 11-5.
 
The Red Flash entered the NCAA Regionals with a nation-best 83 homers, SFU's first time leading the nation in that category, and finished second after the College World Series concluded.  SFU set a new SFU and NEC season record for homers and ranked second in Division I with 1.43 homers per game. The Red Flash earned three NFCA All-Region selections, two NEC major awards, including Player of the Year Cheyenne McKee (DuBois, Pa./DuBois), and seven All-NEC selections. 
 
What They're Saying About O'Donnell
 
Maria DiBernardi, Retired Head Coach, Villanova – "Coach O'Donnell is one of the best up and coming clinicians in our sport. Her passion and energy for the game are contagious and she will bring that to the team every day! Coach O'Donnell was an integral part of the success of our program and I am confident that she will maintain or elevate the high level of play that has been the great tradition of Saint Francis Softball. I am so happy for her. Her work ethic is unmatched and she is at a great university in which she can thrive!"
 
Patricia Conlan, Head Coach, Georgetown – "Jessica is a shining star in the collegiate coaching ranks. Her knowledge, intensity, work ethic and passion for the game of softball is undeniable. Jess is one of the most genuine people I know and you will not find a more dedicated person to carry on the tradition of Saint Francis academically and athletically.  Saint Francis knocked this hire out of the park."
 
Tim Walton, Head Coach, Florida – "Jessica is a hard worker and a true student of the game. Jessica is a coach who will build a strong working relationship with her players and help her athletes accomplish their goals to help continue the team in its winning ways"
 
Jon Gordon, Best-Selling Author and Keynote Speaker – "Like all the great coaches I work with, Jessica is always striving to get better so she can make her team better. She knows how to build a culture. She cares about her student-athletes. She puts her team before herself and is truly a positive leader who makes everyone around her better."