Emily Kingsolver to Join Cougar Softball Staff

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College softball team is bolstering its already impressive coaching staff with the addition of Emily Kingsolver. Kingsolver comes to the Cougars by way of Stephens College where she served as head coach since 2018. There, she also served as the Senior Women’s Leader and game day manager.

Head Coach Wendy Spratt looks forward to the immediate contributions she expects Kingsolver to make, “I am extremely excited to add Emily to our coaching staff. Our student-athletes will benefit from her vast coaching experience at the collegiate and high school level and her passion for the game of softball. Coach Kingsolver’s extensive knowledge of pitching will enhance our outstanding pitching staff.”

The Stars seemed to improve each season under Kingsolver’s direction, with the 2023 season being the most notable season to-date at Stephens College. 

In the 2023 season, the Stars broke six program records in that of: most runs scored, most hits, most doubles, most triples, most RBIs, and most stolen bases; they were one home run short of tying the school record. The Stars qualified for the AMC Softball Conference Tournament for just the second time in program history (first was automatic qualification due to COVID) and ended their season with the most wins in program history. 

“I am extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity. The support I have already received from James Arnold, Wendy Spratt, and the college in general speaks high volume for Columbia College and how they treat their staff. I am looking forward to this next step in my coaching career,” said Kingsolver. 

Aside from success on the field, Kingsolver’s squad succeeded in the classroom as multiple players received academic awards each year that she was there. 

Kingsolver played softball at the University of Dubuque where she was a starting pitcher for four years before graduating with a degree in Exercise Science. Emily still holds multiple career records from her playing career (2010-13):

• #2 in most wins in a season
• #2 in career wins
• #7 in single season strikeouts
• #5 in career strikeouts
• #1 in single season shutouts
• #2 in career shutouts
• #3 in single season games pitches
• #2 in career games pitched

During her time at UD, Kingsolver started her coaching career as she was the head coach at Bellevue Marquette High School from 2010-2019. There, she led the team to four conference championships and three state tournament finishes. Upon graduation from UD, Kingsolver was a graduate assistant coach at MidAmerica Nazarene from 2013-2016 where she helped lead the team to the NAIA National Tournament in 2014. She graduated from MNU in 2016 with her Masters of Science in Management. 

After a brief stint as a volunteer assistant coach at Clarke University from 2016-2017, Kingsolver took over the head coaching position at Stephens College in 2018. 

Kingsolver resides in Columbia with her husband Steven and their two kids, Stevie and Lester.