Former Hilltopper Dani Pugh joined the WKU Softball staff as an assistant coach on June 26, 2019. Pugh, a 2016 graduate of WKU, joined the Hilltopper staff following multiple high school coaching stints in her home state of Ohio. Pugh works with the Hilltopper infielders as a part of Tudor's staff.
With the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign marking the first season coaching at her alma mater, Pugh helped the Hilltoppers get out to a 20-5 record before the season halted.
Year two as an assistant coach saw Pugh help lead the Hilltoppers to the Conference USA Tournament championship and third NCAA Regionals appearance in program history. WKU finished with a 32-15 overall record while Pugh saw a pair of infielders earn Second Team All-Conference honors.
WKU Softball wrapped up a historic 2022 campaign that saw the team go 38-13 for a program-best .745 win percentage to go along with a Conference USA East Division Championship as well as the 700th win in program history. The Hilltoppers posted a 17-7 record in C-USA action and returned to the Conference USA Tournament Championship game for the second-consecutive season. The Hilltoppers owned a program-record 23-2 mark when playing at the WKU Softball Complex including an upset win over No. 5 Alabama in front of a record crowd (1,512). Shelby Nunn, Taylor Davis and Taylor Sanders all earned NFCA All-Region honors after each also earned C-USA All-Conference recognition along with Randi Drinnon.
From her 2015 season as a Hilltopper, she owns claim to several WKU Softball records including single season putouts (486), single season fielding percentage (t-3rd .996), and single-game runs batted in (6).
Pugh lettered three years at IPFW before closing her collegiate career as a Hilltopper in 2015. While in Fort Wayne, she earned First Team All-Conference recognition while helping the team to a conference tournament championship along with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
During her season on The Hill as a student-athlete, Pugh was recognized as a Second Team All-Conference USA selection. The team claimed both the regular season and conference tournament championships in the program's inaugural season in Conference USA while advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Pugh slashed .231/.362/.441 during her time in the red and white with nine home runs and 37 RBI while starting all 50 games.
Following the completion of her playing days, Pugh switched sides and became a student coach for the next school year with the Tops. Completing her undergraduate degree during that time, Pugh studied interdisciplinary studies with a focus in organization communications.
From Bowling Green, Pugh headed up to Westerville North High School where she was the head junior varsity coach until May 2018 before she headed to Bishop Ready High School to serve as an assistant coach with the varsity squad.
Last updated June 2022.
