Orono, Maine — University of Maine Director of Athletics Ken Ralph has appointed Jordan Fitzpatrick as head coach of the softball team, effective immediately.
 
"We are thrilled Coach Fitzpatrick will be taking the reins of the Black Bear Softball program," Ralph says. "Jordan has taken on additional responsibilities with the program in the last two years as we anticipated this change was coming.  She has worked well with Coach Coutts and I am confident she can lead our program in a positive direction. We have significant investments in softball coming to Maine and Coach Fitzpatrick is prepared to elevate the program to be the best in America East."

Fitzpatrick recently completed her sixth season on staff after being named an assistant coach on Nov. 12, 2015. In her assistant coaching role, Fitzpatrick handled Maine's pitching staff and also served as camp director for the Black Bears.

"I'm honored to have been chosen for this position and to continue to build a legacy with Maine Softball," said Fitzpatrick. "I appreciate the opportunities provided to me by Mike and Lynn Coutts and would like to thank the University and Ken Ralph for believing that I'm the right person to lead this program. I'm excited to return to the field this fall as a head coach and look forward to getting this season started."

Previous head coach, Mike Coutts, resigned from his position prior to being named the head softball coach at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.

Fitzpatrick was part of the 2016 America East championship coaching staff during her first year as an assistant coach. Under her guidance, Erin Bogdanovich was named America East Pitcher of the Year, America East All-Conference first team, America East Tournament MVP, All-Northeast Region selection, and America East All-Tournament Team during the 2016 season, while being named to the America East All-Conference second team during the 2017 season. Annie Kennedy earned a spot on the conference's second team during the 2018 season under Fitzpatrick's watch. Kyleigh O'Donnell was named to the America East Rookie team at the end of the 2018 season and also earned multiple weekly awards during her time with Fitzpatrick.

As a student-athlete, Fitzpatrick appeared in 55 games with 30 starts while participating as a member of the Black Bears softball team from 2007-10. Fitzpatrick served as a University of Maine softball camp counselor for three years (2012-14) and was the softball summer camp director in 2009 and 2010.

Following her time as a Black Bear student-athlete, Fitzpatrick went on to serve as a volunteer softball coach at Bangor High School from 2011-13. Fitzpatrick became the assistant varsity softball coach at Bangor in 2013; a role she served until the spring of 2015.

Fitzpatrick earned her bachelors of science in childhood development & family relations with a concentration in elementary education from the University of Maine in 2011. Following college, Fitzpatrick taught preschool at Center Drive School in Orrington, Maine for four years. She resides in Bangor, Maine, with her husband and three children.

-UMaine-