Michigan State University

Michigan State University Softbal
223 Kalamazoo St Jenson Field House Rm 303 East Lansing, MI 48824

Division 1 Michigan Midwest

Public Very Large National competitor

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Coaches

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Sharonda McDonald-Kelley

Sharonda McDonald-Kelley enters her second season as head coach at Michigan State in 2024.

Named head softball coach at Michigan State by Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller on June 10, 2022 following a four-year stint as the head coach at Campbell University.

McDonald-Kelley guided Campbell to a 101-81 record over her four seasons, winning Big South tournament titles with the Camels in 2021 and 2022. McDonald-Kelley’s teams went 50-19 in Big South play and advanced to NCAA Regionals in each of the last two seasons, marking two of the five times a Campbell team has reached the NCAA Tournament since 1986. In 2021, McDonald-Kelley was named Big South Coach of the Year after her team won both the Big South regular season and tournament titles.

In four seasons at Campbell, McDonald-Kelley coached 15 All-Big South honorees, including seven on the All-Big South First Team, six on the All-Big South Second Team and two honorable mentions. In 2021, outfielder Destini England earned Big South Player of the Year and Third Team All-Southeast Region honors under McDonald-Kelley’s watch.

Prior to Campbell, McDonald-Kelley spent the first 10 years of her coaching career as an assistant coach at Ohio State, Florida, Texas Tech, LSU, Ohio and Texas Southern. McDonald-Kelley also served as head coach of the Chicago Bandits in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League in 2017.

During her lone season at Ohio State in 2018, McDonald-Kelley helped the Top 25-ranked Buckeyes to a 36-16 record along with a trip to NCAA Regionals. Ohio State’s 36 wins were the most for the program since 2010. McDonald-Kelley spent two seasons at Florida as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2016 and 2017, bringing in a pair of Top-10 recruiting classes while the Gators went 114-17 and made an appearance in the 2017 Women’s College World Series.

The Houston, Texas native spent one year as associate head coach at Texas Tech in 2015 following a two-year stint as a volunteer assistant at LSU. At LSU, the Tigers made consecutive NCAA Regional appearances in 2013 and 2014 with McDonald-Kelley coaching the outfield. McDonald-Kelley’s guidance helped develop A.J. Andrews into an All-American in 2013.

From 2010-12, McDonald-Kelley served as assistant coach at Ohio after getting her coaching career started at Texas Southern in 2009.

McDonald-Kelley was a four-time All-Big 12 selection as a player at Texas A&M from 2004-07, capping off her intercollegiate career with Texas A&M’s first trip to the Women’s College World Series in 20 years. McDonald-Kelley is the Aggie career record holder with 153 stolen bases, while ranking second all-time in hits (249) and runs scored (195). McDonald-Kelley is the Texas A&M single-season record holder for runs (60) and her 73 consecutive stolen bases during her time in College Station tied an NCAA record. With 48 steals in 2005, McDonald-Kelley led the NCAA and earned the Golden Shoe Award. She compiled a .338 batting average throughout her four-year collegiate career.

Following her career at Texas A&M, McDonald-Kelley played professionally for seven years, spending time with the Philadelphia Force, the Akron Racers and the USSA Pride of the NPF League. McDonald-Kelley played for Fiorini Softball Club of the Italian Professional League in 2009. A three-time All-NPF selection during her professional career, McDonald garnered the prestigious Diamond Spikes Award in 2012 after hitting .303 with 13 stolen bases for the Racers.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in kinesiology from Texas A&M in 2008.

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Danielle Stenger

Michigan State head softball coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley announced that Danielle Stenger will fill one of two assistant coaching roles within the Spartan program. Stenger arrives in East Lansing from Campbell and will serve as the team's pitching coach.

"I am thrilled for Danielle to join me here on staff at Michigan State," McDonald-Kelley said. "I believe she has one of the best pitching minds in the country and an innate ability to connect with student-athletes. I am excited to see her impact on the program and our pitching staff."

Stenger spent four seasons on staff at Campbell guiding a pitching staff that showed great improvement over each of the last two seasons. The Camels boasted a strong staff in 2022 posting a 2.10 team ERA, led by Isabella Smith's 1.87 ERA and Georgeanna Barefoot's mark of 2.04. Opposing batters hit just .210 against Campbell's pitchers as the team finished the season with a record of 37-19.

Prior to her stint at Campbell, Stenger coached six seasons at Western Carolina University starting as an assistant coach before being elevated to the role of associate head coach. There Stenger coached the Catamounts' all-time leader in strikeouts, Jordan Garrett (740).

"I am so excited to be a part of the Michigan State softball program," Stenger said. "I want to thank Coach Sho for this great opportunity. Let's get to work. Go Green!"

A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Stenger was a standout pitcher at Southern Illinois University. During her four-year career as a Saluki, Stenger went 67-40 in the circle with a 2.25 ERA. In 2010, Stenger was named the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Pitcher of the Year as well as All-MVC First Team and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region second team.

Stenger is married to Nick Stenger and the couple has one son, Nolan.

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Bethaney Wells

Michigan State head softball coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley announced the hiring of Bethaney Wells as an assistant coach on Friday, June 30, 2023. Joining McDonald-Kelley's staff alongside assistant coaches Danielle Stenger and Destini England, Wells will develop the Spartans on the offensive side of the ball.

Wells arrives in East Lansing after seven seasons at UNCG where she was an assistant coach under Janelle Breneman, the program's all-time winningest coach. Prior to her stint in Greensboro, N.C., Wells was an assistant coach for three seasons at William Peace.

"I am so excited and appreciative of the opportunity to join Coach Sho, her staff and this program," said Wells. "I am incredibly grateful for my time at UNCG and am looking forward to building something special in East Lansing."

At UNCG, Wells helped the Spartans to six SoCon regular season championships, three SoCon Tournament championships and three NCAA regional appearances, amassing an overall record of 233-124 in that span.

The Spartan offense reached historic heights under Wells' guidance posting five of the program's top 10 seasons in total team runs, six of the top 10 seasons in total team doubles, six of the top 10 seasons in total team home runs, six of the top 10 seasons in total team RBI and seven of the top 10 seasons in total team slugging percentage. Plate discipline was improved with six of the top 10 seasons in total team walks.

"Bethaney is one of the best offensive minds in our game and I am excited to add her to our program to lead the offense," said McDonald-Kelley. "She is a proven winner and developer of dynamic, powerful hitters. We are excited to welcome her into the Michigan State family!"

A former standout student-athlete at NC State, Wells helped lead the Wolfpack to an ACC Tournament championship in 2013 and was named an NFCA All-America scholar athlete from 2011-13. Wells ranks third all-time for career home runs at NC State while also ranking in the Top 10 in career runs batted in and slugging percentage.

Wells graduated from NC State in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in nutrition science.