USD Magazine Spring 2021

TORERO ATHLETICS USD MAGAZINE

C O U R T E S Y O F U S D A T H L E T I C S

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M J K n i g h t e n n a m e d h e a d s o f t b a l l c o a c h C H AMP I ON S H I P M E N T A L I T Y I by Mike Sauer

softball program. MJ Knighten is a special person with rare leader- ship qualities for a young coach,” he said. “We’ve watched her grow over the last year as a member of our coaching staff, and I’m very confident she’s the right head coach to build a championship softball program at USD.” From 2017 to 2018, Knighten served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Nebraska. She then joined Wichi- ta State University’s coaching staff for the 2018-2019 season be- fore taking the job as the Toreros’ hitting coach under head coach

n just a few short years, MJ Knighten has experienced a lifetime of memories on the softball field. Only three seasons removed from her days as a slug- ging third baseman for the sto- ried University of Nebraska soft- ball program, Knighten became the NCAA’s youngest Division I

leading strong young women, regardless of their race; I’m grateful for the opportunity.” When announcing the historic hire, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis expressed confidence in her capabilities. “I am so excit- ed for the young women in our

head softball coach when she was named manager of the USD program in August. Even more significantly, she became USD’s first Black wom- en’s head coach in any sport. “I’m grateful,” says Knighten. “Shining a light on me being a young African American woman

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