BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Softball Head Coach Amy Tudor announced the promotion of Kayla Bixel to Associate Head Coach on Thursday. Bixel is entering her 10th season alongside Tudor in the Hilltopper Softball dugout in 2024-25, including as an assistant coach since the 2016-17 season.
"I am happy to announce the promotion of Kayla Bixel to Associate Head Coach," Tudor said. "It's well deserved and a great day for our program. Over the last nine years, she has recruited high-level athletes, implemented new ideas, and positively impacted our team. She is a huge part of our success on and off the field and I am grateful for all she does for our program."
During Bixel's eight seasons as an assistant coach under Tudor, the Hilltoppers have won 249 games, including 30-or-more wins in four straight and six of eight seasons. Twenty-six players have earned All-Conference USA honors during Bixel's eight years in the dugout.
"I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to continue in this role with our softball program," Bixel said. "I want to thank Amy for her mentorship and belief in me along with the administration for allowing me to be a part of this special WKU Athletics family. These past eight years have been a blessing to work with our outstanding young women and staff that make up WKU Softball, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming days as we strive for excellence on and off the field while competing for championships."
WKU went 33-20-1 overall during the 2023 season, including a 16-8 mark in CUSA play. The Hilltoppers earned the No. 2 seed in the CUSA Tournament, falling in extra innings to Liberty in the Conference USA Championship Game. Eight players earned All-CUSA honors, highlighted by Pitcher of the Year Katie Gardner and Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Webster. Taylor Sanders wrapped up her illustrious career as the Tops all-time leader in career home runs and RBI.
In 2022, the Hilltoppers picked up their third-straight 30-win season, going 30-22 with a 14-9 record in CUSA play. Webster, Taylor Davis, and Faith Hegh earned First Team All-CUSA honors, while Hegh was also named NFCA All-Region Second Team and freshman Kaytlan Kemp landed a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman team.
In 2022, Bixel's sixth season as an assistant coach, the team went 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 CUSA action and returned to the Conference USA Tournament Championship Game for the second consecutive season. The Hilltoppers owned a program-best 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, Davis and Sanders all earned NFCA All-Region honors after each also earned All-CUSA recognition alongside Randi Drinnon.
In her fifth season - the 2021 campaign - Bixel led two Hilltopper outfielders to Second Team All-Conference nods. The pair of versatile athletes in Paige Carter and Kennedy Sullivan both also earned NFCA All-Region recognition. WKU returned to the NCAA Tournament by winning the CUSA Tournament Championship in Bowling Green.
The Hilltoppers were off to a 20-5 start during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
WKU won the East Division and went 37-13 overall during the 2019 campaign, as senior outfielder Jordan Vorbrink along with fifth-year Shannon Plese earned Second Team All-Conference nods under Bixel's instruction.
In her second season as WKU's assistant coach - the 2018 campaign - Bixel saw outfielder Jordan Thomas become WKU Softball's first freshman to ever earn an NFCA All-Region accolade. The Hilltoppers went 28-26 overall on the season.
Bixel, a native of Bremen, Ind., implemented the WKU Softball Pinch Hitter's Club in her first year on The Hill as the Director of Operations during the 2015-16 season. The club is a donor program for fans to support the WKU Softball team and receive benefits in return. Additionally, Bixel oversaw the Hilltoppers' efforts in the classroom where the team combined for a spring GPA of 3.52, assisted with recruit visits and also held in-game and office responsibilities.
In 2010, Bixel earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from IPFW and went on to teach for five years in the East Allen County School District in New Haven, Indiana. In addition to teaching, Bixel worked to receive a Master's degree in education from Ball State University. An assistant girls' basketball coach at Leo High School for six seasons, Bixel completed her Master's degree in intercollegiate athletic administration from WKU in January 2017.
A versatile athlete, Bixel was a three-sport competitor at Bremen High School, earning 10 varsity letters across volleyball, basketball and softball. Bixel went on to play collegiate softball at Grace College following high school.
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