Kentucky softball legend finding success playing professionally
Former University of Kentucky superstar Erin Coffel said the hardest thing about pro softball is that “every pitch you face is going to be really, really, tremendously good.”
Well, it’s not a statement her accolades support.
Coffel was named Hitter of the Year in the inaugural season of the four-team Athletes Unlimited Softball League and, on June 27, was named one of eight front-runners for the MVP trophy, which was to be announced Saturday by the league.
“It’s been everything and more,” Coffel said about her experience in the AUSL. “You paint this image of what you think it’s going to be, but it’s really just exceeded that.”
Coffel is no stranger to softball success. She is UK’s all-time leading home run hitter, launching 68 bombs over her four-year Wildcats career that ended in 2024. She set program records in slugging percentage (.785), RBI (212) and walks (155).
In her junior year, her most decorated season at UK, Coffel led Division I in OBP (.626), OPS (1.595) and was second in slugging percentage (.968). She was a top-25 finalist for USA Softball National Player of the Year and was named to the All-SEC First Team.
She said one of the main things she took away from her time at UK was a “blue collar” work ethic.
“Kentucky prides themselves on working hard,” Coffel said. “In the weight room, on the field, in the classroom, I really pride myself on that because they established that inside of me.”
Even with her immense collegiate success, Coffel had to change her approach to adjust to pro ball. She’s shortened her swing and eliminated extra movement to stay consistent at the plate.
Coffel said her biggest adjustment was mental. She said she eliminated “extra brain chatter,” allowing her to play a lot more free.
“(In) college softball ... you put a lot of pressure on yourself to perform,” Coffel said. “I just think I’m talking really positive to myself, even when I do struggle.”
Both adjustments are clearly working.
She leads the league in on-base percentage (.566), slugging percentage (.869), OPS (1.435) and RBI (28) in 23 games. She was a driving force in qualifying her team, the AUSL Bandits, for this weekend’s AUSL championship series in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
“I absolutely love this team, I love the coaches, and I think we’ve been able to click,” Coffel said. “It’s a pretty quick season, obviously, but it really challenges you.”
Coffel, who played professional softball previously in last year’s AUX and Championship seasons, said there’s another major difference between college and the pros.
“College softball, all eyes are on you, because there’s so much attention on college softball,” Coffel said. “Last year, going into the pro season, there weren’t as many eyes on you.”
Coffel has had a lot of eyes on her in the AUSL. Last Saturday, a game featuring the Bandits and Volts brought more than 6,500 fans to Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. This weekend’s best-of-three championship series Saturday through Monday between the Bandits and Talons was to be broadcast on ESPN.
“That (attendance at Saturday’s game) was shocking and just so eye-opening to see just how much professional softball is growing,” Coffel said. “It’s starting to make its way up on board with college softball.”
After Coffel competes for the AUSL crown, she’ll get right back to playing softball. She was one of 60 players selected for the AUSL All-Star Cup, a 21-game season that assigns points to players and crowns one individual champion.
After the all-star season, Coffel will head back to the University of Florida, where she is a graduate assistant coach, and finish her master’s degree.