SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball program announced the addition of former Western Michigan head coach Kathy Leitke as the team’s analytics fellow. Leitke joins the Irish staff after serving as Western Michigan’s head coach for 22 seasons, and owns 31 years of coaching experience. She finished her head coaching career with 790 wins, serving as the head coach at Lake Michigan College prior to joining WMU.
“I’m so excited to add Kathy to our staff.” Head coach Deanna Gumpf said, “We’ve had a great tradition of competing against each other during my time here, and I’m thrilled that we’ll have her experience and expertise on our side.”
“I’m thrilled to join Deanna and the Notre Dame staff this season.” said Leitke, “I spent many years in the opposite dugout, and I’ve seen the standard she has set for her program. I’m very excited to help continue to build on the already strong foundation that’s been laid here, and help this program continue to push for excellence on and off the field.”
At the conclusion of her time in Kalamazoo, Leitke earned 478 wins at Western, and was the longest tenured and winningest coach in Western Michigan softball history. She led the Broncos to two Mid-American Tournament Championships. She was a two-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, winning the awards in 2006 and 2011.
While at Lake Michigan, she earned NFCA Coach of the Year, and NJCAA Coach of the Year honors, and was named regional Coach of the Year five times, League Coach of the Year four times and NFCA East Region Coach of the Year three times.
Leitke oversaw a total of 60 All-MAC honorees, including 29 first team selections. The Broncos also had a multitude of academic awards, earning 135 National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Scholar Athlete honors, three earn NFCA Academic All-District and an Academic All-American. Her program also saw 48 Academic All-MAC selections during her tenure.
The Fighting Irish open the fall season against Lawrence Tech and Bryant and Stratton College this weekend at Melissa Cook Stadium.