Jennifer Herzig - Softball Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Jennifer Herzig

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
herzigjl@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-2378
Physical Address:
Memorial 1163 (395 South High St.) / MSC 6925

Associate Head Coach Jennifer Herzig enters her 13th season with the James Madison softball program in 2025.

She was hired by then Head Coach Mickey Dean on Sept. 5, 2012 as an assistant coach. Herzig was promoted in July 2018 to associate head coach after spending six seasons with the Dukes.

Herzig serves as the programs hitting coach and also works with the outfielders and catchers from the defensive end. In her 13 seasons in Harrisonburg, the Dukes have compiled a 434-130 record, including a 145-34 mark in Colonial Athletic Association play, and a 36-34 record in Sun Belt Conference play.

She has helped build the program into a softball powerhouse, setting the single-season wins mark with a 52-8 record in 2017 while also helping the Dukes reach the top 10 in both major softball polls. In her time, the Dukes have earned eight NCAA Championship berths and have won a game in all eight appearances, including taking the Harrisonburg Regional title in 2016 to advance to the program’s first NCAA Super Regional. The program advanced to its second Super Regional in 2019 after defeating Michigan in back-to-back games in the Ann Arbor Regional. JMU made its third Super Regional appearance in 2021 after winning the Knoxville Regional. The Dukes continued on to the Women’s College World Series after defeating Missouri in a best of three games at the Columbia Super Regional. The Dukes’ coaching staff has picked up the NFCA Northeast Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award five times during Herzig’s career (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021) along with the 2021 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award.

During her time with the Dukes she has seen five CAA titles, three NCAA Regional titles and one Super Regional title and one WCWS appearance. She has coached one NFCA DI National Player of the Year, three National Pro Fastpitch draft picks, four NFCA All-Americans, six CAA Players of the Year, three CAA Pitchers of the Year, two CAA Defensive Player of the Year, seven CAA Rookies of the Year and multiple All-CAA, All-Region and All-State selections.

Herzig has helped develop all four of the programs All-Americans. Now USSSA Pride Pitcher, Jailyn Ford earned All-American status three times during her time with the Dukes, serving as a dominate threat in the circle and at the plate. The 2017 NFCA DI National Player of the Year, Megan Good earned the status of All-American four times while she was with the Dukes and leaves her name all over the JMU record book. The 2021 CAA Pitcher of the Year and Softball America’s NCAA Pitcher of the Year, Odicci Alexander, earned three All-American nods during her time with the Dukes as she was dominate on both sides of the ball. The CAA and JMU career home run record holder, Kate Gordon was a two-time All-American while at JMU.

In 2021, Herzig assisted with the offense, helping JMU enter the national rankings late in the season, advance to the WCWS and finish the season in the top-five of the national polls. The Dukes finished the season ranked seventh in the nation for home runs per game (1.58), ninth in onbase percentage (.409), seventh in scoring (6.76), and sixth in slugging percentage (.562). Herzig helped Kate Gordon to her third VaSID All-State Player of the Year nod, finishing the season with the CAA home run record (71). She assisted Odicci Alexander to a record of 18-3 in the circle with wins over four top-10 teams including No. 1 Oklahoma. Herzig played a major part in Sara Jubas’s successful season and impressive post season performance earning VaSID All-State First Team honors and NFCA All-Region Second Team. She helped guide Alissa Humphrey to an impressive rookie season, earning a spot on the Schutt Sports/NFCA National Division Freshman of the Year Top 15 List as well as CAA Rookie of the Year and VaSID Rookie of the Year.

In 2020, Herzig contributed to the offensive end, helping the Dukes remain national ranked for four weeks and finish with a record of 13-6. Though season ended earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dukes finished seconded in the nation in scoring (8.47 runs per game), second in homeruns per game (1.79 per game), third in slugging percentage (.626), tenth in batting average (.339) and sixth for on base percentage (.444). Herzig helped Kate Gordon lead the nation in five statistical categories including batting average (.575), along with the honors of VaSID All-State First Team and Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Herzig helped guide Odicci Alexander to capture two wins over nationally ranked teams in JMU’s opening weekend at SPC Elite Invitational. She was a crucial asset to Sara Jubas having a stellar shortened season, reaching the milestone of 100 RBIs, earning VaSID All-State First Teams Honors and becoming the first CoSIDA Academic All-American for the program.

In 2019, Herzig helped guide the Dukes on the offensive front, ending the season ranking second nationally in scoring (7.67 runs per game), second in on base percentage (.436), fourth in homeruns per game (1.67), fifth in batting average (.333) and fifth in slugging percentage (.589). She also helped lead the pitchers to a 1.66 team ERA which ended the year ranked eighth in the country. The pitchers saw 17 shutouts that season behind the pitch calling of Herzig. Kate Gordon earned her second NFCA All-American honor under Herzig in the 2019 campaign. Gordon racked in the honors that year, also receiving First Team All-CAA honors, VaSID First Team and Player of the Year nods, NFCA First Team All-Northeast and a spot on the All-ECAC team. Herzig was a crucial asset to the team winning the CAA Championship as they headed to their eighth overall and seventh consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. The Dukes knocked off ranked Michigan in back-to-back games on the final day of the Ann Arbor Regional to advance to the programs second ever NCAA Super Regional. The Dukes advanced to the L.A. Super Regional, going toe-to-toe with the eventual national champion in UCLA. The Dukes ended the 2019 campaign with a 51-10 overall record and ended CAA play at 20-1.

Herzig helped the program earn its first ever outfield NFCA All-America accolade in 2018 as sophomore Kate Gordon had a standout season. The Dukes earned their seventh overall and sixth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance with a berth into the Knoxville Regional. JMU captured a 43-14 overall record and a 19-2 record in conference play in 2018. Herzig helped the Dukes end the year ranked first nationally in home runs per game (1.51), second in slugging percentage (.539) and sixth in team scoring (6.42 runs per game).

In 2017, Herzig saw the fruits of her labor continue to flourish after leading the Dukes to a .347 team batting average which ranked second nationally. The team also ranked third in slugging percentage (.556), and fourth in runs scored per game (6.73). She guided Taylor Newton to All-CAA honors and helping her set the then JMU and CAA RBI record. JMU finished the season with a 52-8 overall mark with a 18-2 record in conference play. JMU swept the conference tournament to win the 2017 CAA Championship, marking the first time in program history that the Dukes have won back-to-back conference titles. The Dukes advanced to the Waco Regional, falling to the host Lady Bears in the finals.

Catcher, Erica Field was named CAA Defensive Player of the year for the third straight season under the guidance of Herzig in 2016 and was later drafted to the National Pro Fastpitch league. Taylor Newton and Field both earned All-CAA honors and NFCA All-Northeast Region honors for the second straight season. The Dukes finished the season with a 50-6 overall record and an 18-1 mark in CAA play. This earned the Dukes the No. 7 overall seed for the 2016 NCAA Championship, giving them the opportunity to host their second straight Harrisonburg Regional. The Dukes would win that regional and host the programs first ever Super Regional.

In 2015, Herzig helped two Dukes earn All-CAA First Team honors in Erica Field and Taylor Newton. Field was tabbed CAA Defensive Player for the second straight season and both she and Newton were recognized on the NFCA All-Northeast Region Team. The Dukes went 48-10 on the year and a perfect 19-0 in league play to earn the No. 15 overall seed for the NCAA Championship. The Dukes would then host the programs first NCAA Regional.

Herzig helped a pair of rookie outfielders to All-CAA status, which included CAA Rookie of the Year Niki Prince in 2014. Prince was a First Team All-CAA selection while Newton made the Second Team. JMU went 45-15 overall and 15-3 in CAA play, claiming its second CAA tournament title after going 3-0 in the conference tournament.

In her first season, she helped guide the Dukes to a 42-17 overall record and a 18-3 mark in the CAA. JMU finished second in the CAA regular season and conference tournament and picked up the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament at-large bid. The Dukes traveled to the Knoxville Regional and earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win with a 5-0 win over Longwood. The Dukes placed seven players on All-CAA teams, and had the CAA Player and Rookie of the Year that season.

Herzig comes to JMU after serving the previous seven seasons as the head coach at UNCG where she won 173 games. In her time in Greensboro, the Spartans made their first ever appearance in the Southern Conference championship game. Four times in her seven seasons, her team upset the SoCon tournament’s top-seeded team, including becoming the first No. 8 seed to beat the No. 1 seed in consecutive seasons (2006-07).

In addition to success at the SoCon tournament, Herzig has coached 24 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athletes and 21 Academic All-Southern Conference selections. She recruited and coached UNCG’s career leader in hits (Alex Emeterio) and strikeouts (Amber Harrell) as well as coaching two members of the Puerto Rican national team and one Canadian junior national team player. Under her tutelage, 12 players were named All-Southern Conference, four were named to the All-Freshman team and seven made appearances on the All-Tournament team, including the 2010 tournament MVP in Harrell.

Prior to taking her position at UNCG, Herzig served as an assistant coach at Charlotte under head coach Aimee DeVos. She worked primarily with the infielders, catchers and hitters while also coaching first base. Herzig also worked as a graduate assistant coach at East Tennessee State and briefly served as the university’s interim head coach from August to December in 2002.

Herzig played at Charlotte from 1997-2001. She was a four-year letterwinner at first base and catcher and an NFCA Academic All-America selection.