Molly O'Donnell returns to Cortland's coaching staff for the 2019 season as the program's associate head coach after serving as an assistant coach at Division I Columbia University in 2017 and 2018. O'Donnell previously was an assistant for the Red Dragons during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, during which time the program was a combined 74-24, won two SUNYAC titles and earned four NCAA tournament victories.
O’Donnell specializes in hitting instruction and has extensive experience in offensive development, using practice programs, batting philosophies and analytical tools for player improvement and growth.
At Columbia, O'Donnell helped the Lions set multiple offensive team records in 2017, including runs scored (205), home runs (37), RBI (184) and total bases (539). The Lions led the Ivy League in runs, hits (347), doubles (69), home runs, RBI and walks (118). The following season Columbia established new school marks in batting average (.303), slugging percentage (.506), runs (244), homers (48), triples (12), RBI (218), walks (131) and total bases (573).
Prior to her first stint at Cortland, O’Donnell spent the 2014 season at Skidmore College, where she helped guide the Thoroughbreds to their first postseason appearance in four years. O’Donnell and the rest of the Skidmore staff were named 2014 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.
O’Donnell was a two-year captain and four-year letterwinner at Ithaca College. She was named a First Team Empire 8 All-Star as a freshman in 2010, and earned second-team accolades after hitting .348 with 29 RBI her junior season. O’Donnell’s performance in the 2010 postseason landed her on the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team.
O’Donnell graduated magna cum laude from Ithaca in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. She went on to complete her master’s in sport management at Cortland in 2015. Additionally, O’Donnell has completed National Fastpitch Coaches Convention (NFCC) courses in World Series Observation, Offensive Strategy and Dynamic Practice Planning.
