O’Donnell became the 12th head coach in Saint Francis Softball history in July of 2018 after serving the previous five seasons as the Associate Head Coach at Villanova University.
2023
In 2023, Saint Francis won its third-straight outright NEC Regular Season title with a 15-6 conference record. During the regular season Saint Francis won its second game over a Big Ten program under coach O'Donnell - an 8-5 victory over Michigan State (Feb. 18). Saint Francis also defeated eventual 2023 NCAA Regional participants George Mason 1-0 in 10 innings (March 4), Marist 6-4 (March 10) and LIU twice 4-1 and 9-1 in five innings (March 26).
Individually, Grace Vesco ranked 33rd in the NCAA in hits allowed per seven innings (4.48) and 39th in strikeouts (185). Vesco's strikeouts ranked fourth in single-season program history and Rachel Marsden ranked seventh (150). The 2023 pitching staff set a new program record in total strikeouts (343).
Under O'Donnell's guidance, Marsden was selected NFCA Second Team All-Region (UTIL/P), First Team All-NEC (P & DP), NEC All-Tournament Team and CSC Academic All-District. Jordan Pietrzykoski was named First Team All-NEC (SS), NEC All-Tournament Team and CSC Academic All-District. Grace Vesco was selected First Team All-NEC (P) and CSC Academic All-District, while Olivia Ulam was also named First Team All-NEC (1B) and CSC Academic All-District. Madelyn Wilson earned First Team All-NEC (2B) and NEC All-Rookie Team, while Savannah Nash was selected Second Team All-NEC (OF) and NEC All-Rookie Team. Brianna Sawyers added NEC All-Rookie Team honors and Ashley Wruble was selected CSC Academic All-District.
2022
In 2022, O'Donnell led Saint Francis to a fifth-straight NEC Title and NCAA Regionals appearance. The Red Flash earned NEC Regular Season Champion for the fourth time in program history with a 20-4 conference record. Saint Francis defeated LIU 9-0 in the NEC Championship game to win the conference and advance to the Blackburg Regional where they faced No. 3 Virginia Tech and Miami (Ohio).
The Red Flash finished ranked in the NCAA 19th in ERA (2.12), 31st in shutouts (13), 44th in fielding percentage (.971) and 46th in batting average (.294). Individually, Mekenzie Saban ranked fourth in doubles (23) and 19th in batting average (.427).
Saban tied her own single-season NEC and program record in doubles (23). She also ranked second in program history in on-base percentage (.495), third in batting average (.427), hits (73), and fielding assists (119). Olivia Ulam set a new program record in putouts (450), Rachel Marsden ranked third in wins (20), Grace Vesco fourth in strikeouts (162) and Jordan Pietrzykoski ranked fifth in fielding assists (116).
As a team in single-season program history, Saint Francis ranked third in batting average (.294), strikeouts thrown (309) and ERA (2.12), fourth in wins (37) and fifth in hits (423) and home runs (45).
Under O'Donnell's guidance, Saban was named NFCA First Team All-Region, NEC Player of the Year and All-NEC First Team. Academically, she was named NEC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, NEC Female Team Co-Student-Athlete of the Year, CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, Senior CLASS Award First Team All-America and CoSIDA All-District. Marsden was named NFCA First Team All-Region (UTIL/P), NEC Pitcher of the Year, All-NEC First Team (P) and All-NEC Second Team (DP). She was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District. Vesco earned NFCA Third Team All-Region, All-NEC First Team (P) and NEC Tournament MVP. Ulam was named All-NEC First Team (1B), All-Rookie and All-Tournament Team. Jordan Frank earned All-NEC First Team (OF), while Lindsay Ward and Ashley Wruble were named NEC All-Tournament Team.
2021
In 2021, O’Donnell led the Red Flash to its fourth-consecutive NEC Tournament Championship and NCAA Regionals appearance as well as the third NEC Regular Season Championship in program history with a 22-2 record in NEC play. Saint Francis claimed the tournament championship with a 12-4 win in five innings against LIU. The Red Flash concluded the season with a trip to Austin, Texas for NCAA Regionals, facing No. 11 Texas and No. 10 Oregon.
At the conclusion of the Red Flash’s season, Saint Francis was nationally ranked in seven categories. The SFU pitching staff had the fourth-best ERA (1.47), was tied for fifth in shutouts (19) and ranked 24th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.45). The SFU offense ranked 29th in on-base percentage (.390), 33rd in scoring (5.64) and 34th in batting average (.304). The Saint Francis squad was 14th in the nation in win-loss percentage (.800).
In addition to team rankings, three individuals were nationally ranked as well. Senior Mekenzie Saban finished the season tied for fourth in doubles (20), sixth in hits (76), tied 11th in doubles per game (.40), 15th in batting average (.452), 26th in runs per game (1.04) and 47th in on-base percentage (.508). Sophomore Grace Vesco was tied for third in shutouts (13), fifth in hits allowed per seven innings (3.26), sixth in ERA (1.00), tied for 13th in wins (22) and tied for 28th in strikeouts (196). Sophomore Rachel Marsden ranked 27th in walks allowed per seven innings (1.15), tied for 39th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.00) and 49th in ERA (1.62).
The Red Flash set four single-season program records and ranked in the top five in program history in four other categories. Saint Francis broke the program records for shutouts (19), strikeouts (321), ERA (1.47) and batting average (.305). SFU also ranked second in single-season program history in wins (40), third in stolen bases (69), fifth in RBI (258) and fifth in runs (282). The Red Flash had the best start in program history, winning nine of its first 10 games. Four single-season individual records were broken as well, with Saban having the highest batting average (.452) and on-base percentage (.508) and Vesco having the most shutouts (13) and strikeouts (196).
Saban and Vesco were among those honored with postseason accolades. Vesco was named All-Region First Team while Saban earned All-Region Second Team honors. Vesco was the unanimous choice for NEC Pitcher of the Year and was named to the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 15 list. She was among four All-NEC First Team selections, joined by Saban, Marsden and senior Jordan Frank. Freshman Lexi Hernandez was named All-NEC Second Team and All-Rookie Team. Vesco was named the NEC Tournament MVP and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Hernandez, Saban and junior Allyn Bezjak.
2019
O’Donnell’s hire paid immediate dividends as she and her staff, in 2019, led the Red Flash to their third-straight Northeast Conference title and competed in the Ann Arbor regional hosted by the University of Michigan. The accomplishment becomes even more impressive when taken in consideration O’Donnell inherited a team racked by graduation and transfers including the loss of the incumbent pitching staff. Despite the reduced squad, Saint Francis finished with a NEC record of 10- 6 to continue a streak of winning records in NEC play. The Red Flash impressed in non-conference play. One notable result was a narrow 3-1 defeat at No.5 Alabama in which the Red Flash silenced the home crowd by tying with the Crimson Tide for the majority of the game. When NEC conference play began, Saint Francis kicked it up a notch to clinch the third seed. Mixed among the conference games were victories over instate rivals Penn State and Pitt and a doubleheader sweep of local Bucknell.
Entering the conference tournament as the number-three seed, the Red Flash knocked off Sacred Heart in the opening round and host LIU Brooklyn twice to capture the 2019 crown. The two victories against LIU Brooklyn were the only home losses for the Blackbirds in 2019. The 29 wins amassed by the Red Flash in 2019 are the most for a coach in their first season in school history.
Under O’Donnell’s tutelage, the Red Flash hammered opponents’ pitching and launched themselves into the single-season annuals of the Red Flash record book. Saint Francis set team records for hits in a season (480), and doubles (97), a mark which was 15 th in the NCAA. The 2019 team placed third in the record books for RBI (329), batting average (.287), runs scored (348), and home runs (66). The squad finished fourth in triples (15), and walks (187). Defensively, the squad finished second in putouts (1,175) and fifth in assists (461).
Beyond the SFU record book, the squad dotted the 2019 NCAA leader board finishing 15 th in doubles per game, 24 th in scoring, 32 nd in home runs per game, 32nd in slugging percentage, and 42nd in triples per game.
Individual players shined under O’Donnell’s hitting approach. Sophomore MeKenzie Saban's 23 doubles were a NEC and SFU record and third-most in the NCAA. More than just doubles, Saban blossomed under O’Donnell’s style, and turned into one of the most dangerous hitters in the nation. The sophomore displayed massive improvement across all hitting categories: her average rose from .105 to .367, she collected 80 hits to set the team mark for hits in a season, smashed her first collegiate home runs, became a prototypical leadoff hitter to set a program record for at-bats in a season (218), scored 63 runs (third all-time for single season play), and knocked in 29 RBIs.
Underclassmen were not the only players to progress under O’Donnell. Seasoned veterans also chronicled career years under the inaugural head coach. Catcher/Outfielder Sierra McKee set career marks in home runs (14), RBI (59), slugging percentage (.656), and OBP (.447), Twin sister Cheyenne McKee saw similar results: career highs in home runs (11), RBI (44), doubles (15), at-bats (190), and walks (22). Senior slugger Hayley Norton devastated opposing hurlers setting career highs in home runs (16) fourth best in the single season category, RBI (65) second best for a single season, hits (72) second best for a single season, slugging percentage (.680), OBP (.441), at-bats (197) and runs (50). Her 65 RBIs placed 11th in the nation.
The squad’s assault on the record books didn’t just include the shattering of team and single season records. Career records were also demolished. Norton and the McKee twins all passed Madison Cabell’s previous mark of career hits (202) in a climatic race for top position. Norton won the title setting a new mark of 243 hits. Cheyenne McKee edged her twin sister Sierra McKee 237-236. Cheyenne McKee eclipsed Jordan Seneca’s run scored record of 181 with 209 runs of her own. Cheyenne McKee broke into the top-5 for career batting average (.343) and placed third in triples (10). Norton set a NEC and SFU record for home runs with 57 bombs. The McKee sisters moved into the top-five as well. Sierra McKee hit 34 homers and Cheyenne McKee finished with 32. Norton smashed another Cabell record with 218 RBIs surpassing the old mark of 188.
She guided three seniors Hayley Norton (second team), Sierra McKee and Cheyenne McKee (third team) to Great Lakes All-Region honors. Five Red Flash players were named All-NEC led by Hayley Norton's first team selection. Mikayla Bower, Christina Clark, Sierra McKee and MeKenzie Saban all took home second team honors. Clark was also named to the All-Rookie team, and backed up a strong NEC season by being named NEC Tournament MVP. Norton earned first-team All-ECAC honors. Six times SFU players won NEC Player of the Week, one NEC Pitcher of the Week, and three NEC Rookie of the Week awards in 2019.
In addition to the success on the field, the Red Flash excelled in the classroom in O'Donnell's first season. The team recorded a collective GPA of 3.54 during the spring, in-season semester. Three players: Mikayla Bower, Hayley Norton and MeKenzie Saban all earned Academic All-District honors in 2019. Over half the team (eight players) earned NFCA Academic Recognition: Mikayla Bower, Brittney Crawford, Jordan Frank, Halle Marion, Cheyenne McKee, Hayley Norton, MeKenzie Saban, and Kassidy Troxell. The softball team also won the SFU athletics 2018-2019 Frankie’s Cup. The Frankie Cup is given to the SFU athletics team that earned the most points based off the criteria of academics, athletic performance, community service, involvement in Student-Athlete Development groups (SAAC and SAMs), and attendance at home athletic sporting events. The squad also won the Bob Hahn Team of Excellence Award.
Before Saint Francis
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 and three NFCA All-Region selections during O’Donnell’s tenure.
O’Donnell helped the Wildcats to a 27-24-1 record in 2018, including a 10-8 mark in the Big East. 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.
Playing Career
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.
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 t 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.”
