Indiana softball head coach Shonda Stanton announced Wednesday that Kendra Kirkhoff will be joining Indiana’s staff as an assistant coach. Kirkhoff spent the previous two seasons at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, also as an assistant.
"I am so grateful for Coach Stanton and the opportunity to work with such a great staff and an outstanding group of student-athletes," Kirkhoff said in a press release Wednesday. "I can't wait to get to work and be a part of the continued success of the Hoosiers."
In Kirkhoff’s past two years at UNCG, the Spartans were the Southern Conference regular season champions in 2022 and that season, Kirkhoff mentored the SoCon Pitcher of the Year, Morgan Scott. In 2023, UNCG won both the regular season and conference championships.
Before her time at UNCG, Kirkhoff was an assistant at the University of Central Florida for three seasons, guiding the Knights to a combined record of 96-45-2. Kirkhoff’s first coaching job was as a volunteer assistant coach with Florida State University during its 2018 national championship season, the year she completed her Master of Science degree.
Kirkhoff earned Indiana Miss Softball in 2013, then played at the University of North Carolina from 2014-2017. In her collegiate career, Kirkhoff was named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Finalist, an All-ACC performer and an NFCA Second-Team All-American.
Kirkhoff earned her bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science from UNC in 2017.
Kirkhoff started in 206 of the 208 games she appeared in during her tenure as a Tar Heel, tallying 188 hits in 587 at-bats for a .320 batting average, 52 home runs, 168 runs batted in, 81 walks and just 52 strikeouts. Kirkhoff finished second all-time at UNC in career slugging percentage, home runs and RBIs as well as third in total bases and eighth in walks.
"As a prolific hitting pitcher, Kendra is a versatile addition who can help oversee our offense and work in the bullpen alongside associate head coach Chanda Bell,” Stanton said. “Her Indiana ties are a plus in terms of recruitment, given our strong intention to continually and actively recruit in-state.”
Kirkhoff also made 114 appearances in the circle, totaling 496 innings and posting a 45-29 record. As a captain her senior year, Kirkhoff hit .374 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs with an 11-4 record in the circle to lead the Tar Heels to the Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament.
“Kendra has been a winner at every stage of her career, from playing to coaching, and her knowledge and work ethic will greatly benefit our student-athletes,” Stanton said.
