New Thundering Herd softball coach Jen Steele has big shoes to fill, but she is determined to carry on the program’s culture of winning.
Winter in Huntington, West Virginia, can sometimes paint a pretty gloomy picture. You don’t get too many 65-degree days, but that was the kind of climate change a softball team could appreciate for a day. Jen Steele must have felt like she was back coaching in Jacksonville, Florida, and the new head coach of the Thundering Herd wasn’t about to waste the day. On Jan. 22, the Herd softball team hit the turf at Dot Hicks Field.
“We’re going to get as many reps as we can off of the bat,” Steele said, “[and] try to work on some big picture defensive things before the weather kicks us back indoors.”
It was perfectly understandable that Coach Steele wanted to get a jump on the softball season. Hired in June of 2017, Steele knows she has considerable cleats to fill.
Her predecessor, Shonda Stanton, left the Herd after a 42-win season and an NCAA tournament appearance in 2017. The Herd put together a school record 17-game win streak. Marshall produced the Conference USA Coach of the Year (Stanton), the C-USA Pitcher of the Year (Jordan Dixon), and the C-USA Player of the Year (Morgan Zerkle). The Herd won an NCAA tournament game over DePaul and set a single season school record for wins. Steele is replacing the winningest coach in Marshall softball history. Other coaches may have balked at the challenge — not Steele.
“Marshall’s a place that has a culture unlike any other place,” Steele said. “It’s always been a school that I’ve admired from afar.”
So, she jumped right in and made herself at home at the Marshall softball complex. She had to get to know players that had only known Coach Stanton.
“It was definitely different,” senior catcher Taylor McCord said. “Honestly, in my opinion it was a really easy transition. These coaches made it easy to come in and do what we’ve always done to focus on ball and school, and they’ve made it a really fun atmosphere. We’re excited to have the coaching staff that we have. I feel really lucky that we got them.”
Of course, with change there’s always a level of curiosity.
“She’s (Steele) awesome,” senior infielder Elicia D’Orazio said. “A new coaching staff is always fun, always different. Every year, whether it’s a new staff or not, you have to come in and sell yourself and earn your spot all over again.”
Steele doesn’t really dwell on the exits of All American players like Zerkle and Dixon and third baseman Shaelynn Braxton. She can’t afford to. Instead she’ll utilize the talents of pre-season all-conference players like D’Orazio and McCord. D’Orazio led the nation with 59 stolen bases last year, batted .397 and led the team with 49 runs scored. McCord is the Herd’s rifle-armed catcher who batted .349 and led the Thundering Herd with 12 home runs.
“It’s always great when you have players pave the way,” Steele said. “And what’s really exciting is to see people this year kind of step into that role — whether it’s a veteran player or someone early in their career that gets to make their own mark. We’re lucky that people before us paved the way and we’re excited to see what we can do this season.”
Steele and the Herd were tested early in the season 
with an ambitious schedule that included three games with schools from the Southeastern Conference. Marshall began the season with a 4-0 loss at Auburn and then headed down to Clearwater, Florida, where they beat Missouri 8-2 and lost a 5-4 thriller to 10th ranked Tennessee. Marshall will have to re-earn the respect and plaudits from their Conference USA colleagues. They were picked fifth in the league’s preseason poll.
“If preseason polls mattered we would never play,” Steele said. “There’s really not a lot of pressure when you’re not picked to be the top dog right away, so for us it only helps to fuel that motivation.”
The coach hopes to lean on the veterans like D’Orazio and McCord while watching the younger players step up and deliver.
“We have a pretty good mix of youth and veterans,” Steele said. “I think the big key for us is figuring out what the circle’s going to be like, because we have four different arms to go to and they’re all pretty different from each other. Being able to kind of mix and match will be really important.”
There’s definitely a change in the air for Marshall Softball, but the players and coaches have no intention of changing the culture of winning. This program has been to the NCAA Tournament twice in the last five years, and Steele wants to lean on those big expectations again during her maiden season. That springlike day in January might be a harbinger of good things ahead. 
Keith Morehouse is the sports director for WSAZ NewsChannel 3 in Huntington.
Photos (from second from top, and left to right):
Softball coach Jen Steele offers an encouraging word to freshman Rachel Rousseau.
Elicia D’Orazio is a preseason All-Conference USA selection. She led the nation in stolen bases last season with a Marshall and Conference USA record of 59.
Junior power hitter Briana Daiss has 15 home runs in two seasons including a grand slam against No. 15 Arizona during her freshman season in 2016.
Kailee Williamson, sophomore pitcher, pitched 37 2/3 innings last season. She struck out the very first batter she faced.
Junior Abigail Estrada is an everyday left field starter. She belted a grand slam at Charlotte.
Taylor McCord, preseason All-Conference USA selection, threw out 16 potential base stealers as well as leading the team with 12 home runs.
Katie Adams is a local player from Hurricane. She is a freshman catcher/infielder who helped her high school win three state titles.
Blakely Burch, sophomore transfer from USC Upstate, is an infielder and strong hitter who can run. Out of nine hits last season, six went for doubles.
Freshman infielder Grayson Radcliffe from Rockville, Virginia, is looking to be the starting shortstop for Marshall’s softball team.
Jordan Colliflower steals third base. She is a starter in right field and had a career-high three triples last season.
Eloise Tribolet batted around .300 in her first year in Division I after transferring from Gulf Coast State College. She is a member of the French National Team.
Junior pitcher and hitter Ali Burdette hit a pinch-hit, two-out, two-run home run in the top of the seventh last year at Georgia Southern to give Marshall the eventual win.
Madi Marshall makes a catch in right field. She scored in 10 straight games last season while coming in as a pinch runner.