Krista Wood leaving South Dakota State softball for Creighton

South Dakota State softball coach Krista Wooden is stepping all the way down to turn out to be the top coach at Creighton, the Bluejays introduced Monday morning.

Wooden, 41, spent eight seasons because the Jackrabbits coach and did a powerful job constructing a beforehand moribund program into the highest staff within the Summit League. The Jacks received the convention common season and match titles every of the final two seasons, the primary time they’d achieved both. In addition they received a recreation within the NCAA match every year. That got here after Wooden took the Jacks to the Nationwide Invitational Softball Championship in 2018 and 2019. General, Wooden guided SDSU to a 238-164 report in eight seasons as coach. The Jacks had gone 11-36 with a 2-16 report in Summit League video games the 12 months earlier than she was employed.

Extra:South Dakota State wins Summit League softball title, will tackle Michigan in NCAA match

Taking up the Bluejays, a Massive East program, represents a return to Nebraska for Wooden, who was a star participant for Nebraska-Omaha, and got here to SDSU after a extremely profitable tenure at Division II Wayne State in Wayne, Neb.

“I’m fired as much as come to Creighton College,” Wooden mentioned in an announcement. “I do know that Creighton has a powerful custom of excellence not solely in softball, however throughout your complete Bluejay Athletic Division. This can be a phenomenal alternative for me being so near house and return to an space I’m very accustomed to. I wish to thank athletic director Marcus Blossom for placing his belief in me to guide this program.”

A 3-time Summit League coach of the 12 months, Wooden has a 508-318 profession report. SDSU went 41-13 this 12 months and 43-8 in 2021. The Jacks not solely dominated the Summit League however routinely had success enjoying in opposition to high Division I competitors. The Jacks went 20-5 in opposition to the Massive East underneath Wooden, which incorporates wins of their final 11 video games. That little question captured the eye of Creighton management.

Extra:South Dakota State softball season ends with NCAA match loss to Michigan

“I am very excited to welcome Krista, her husband Alex and their two youngsters, Braxton and Myles to the Creighton group,” mentioned Blossom. “Krista is a implausible coach, chief and teammate who has earned an amazing quantity of success as a head coach at two totally different universities. Extra importantly, she’s an ideal mentor of younger girls who additionally emphasizes the significance of educational success and private improvement. Our softball program will thrive underneath Krista’s management.”

A Missouri Valley, Iowa, native, Wooden’s groups set a number of offensive and pitching information at SDSU. As a participant, she pitched UNO to the 2001 Division II nationwide championship, and remains to be the Mavericks all-time wins chief.

The Jackrabbits will start a nationwide seek for a brand new coach instantly. Wooden’s high assistant, Kristi Villar, spent seven years as the top coach at Northern State and was the 2015 NSIC coach of the 12 months. And former SDSU assistant Shannon Pivovar simply accomplished her fourth season as the top coach at USF, main the Cougars to a 27-25 mark.