Marshall University Director of Athletics Christian Spears announced the hiring of Morgan Zerkle as the head softball coach on Monday, June 26, 2023.

Zerkle, who starred at Marshall from 2014-17 and went on to represent Team USA and play professionally, takes over as head coach after spending the last four seasons at Miami (Ohio).

"I'm thrilled for Morgan as her dream is now a reality," Spears said. "How many of us truly get to do that – turn our dream into reality? I'm proud of her for flat-out working her plan and making it happen. She earned this and she has my utmost respect for it. When she tells you her goal was to be the head coach at Marshall, it's genuine. She will pour herself into the community and into our student-athletes."

For Zerkle, being named head coach of her alma mater was something she had dreamed of since starting her career in coaching.

"I am feeling immense gratitude, joy, pride and emotion as I come back to Huntington – my home – to lead the Herd," Zerkle said. "I can't wait to get started."

The Milton, W.Va., native returns home to Marshall where she became one of the Thundering Herd's most decorated student-athletes in recent memory.
A two-time finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Zerkle was also a four-time All-Conference USA selection and three-time NFCA All-Region honoree while being named as Marshall Female Athlete of the Year twice, as well.

In her first season as coach, Zerkle's Herd was fittingly efficient at the plate, finishing 2nd in the Sun Belt Conference with a .315 team average, closely behind regular-season champions Louisiana (.317). Zerkle led a resurgence with several players at the plate, none more so than All-SBC First Team member and NFCA 2nd Team All-Region Brooklyn Ulrich, who led the team with a .394 average (Up from .189 in 2023). Ulrich along with All-SBC Second Team member Bella Gerlach co-led the conference with 48 runs batted in. The team ended Louisiana's 89-series conference winning streak with a 12-4, six inning victory on March 15.

As a team, Marshall jumped in year two under Zerkle. The Herd finished 2nd in the Sun Belt Conference in 2025 with a 15-9 league record (Five-win improvement from '24), finishing back above the 30-win (Six-win improvement from '24). Under Zerkle's guidance, MU continued to hit, being one of three teams in the conference with a .300 average or better (.302). The team had two All-Conference members, including freshman Diamond Leslie and newcomer Haleigh Adkins. 12 different players hit a home run in the 2025 season, tied with 2013 for the most to hit a home run in a single season.

Success has followed Zerkle throughout her career in softball, which has included coaching, representing Team USA, playing professionally and her collegiate career at Marshall.

While at Miami (Ohio), Zerkle helped lead the RedHawks to three consecutive MAC Championships and trips to the NCAA Tournament. Miami (Ohio) went a combined 137-55-1 in her four seasons in Oxford. She was also responsible for tutoring 24 All-MAC honorees and a pair of MAC Freshman of the Year winners. Prior to joining the Miami (Ohio) staff, Zerkle served as a graduate assistant at Indiana in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, reconnecting with former Marshall head coach Shonda Stanton, whom she played for while with the Thundering Herd.

Zerkle currently plays professionally with Athletes Unlimited. On June 21, 2024, she recorded her 100th AUX hit.

"There is no doubt that we will be a player's program because she is still an elite player herself and is the perfect representation for what someone from Marshall can become," Spears said. "She has paved the path to being a professional athlete, representing the National Team and, now, as our head coach. That is what we mean by 'The Herd Way.'"

In 2017, Zerkle capped her illustrious career with the Herd as an NFCA All-American Second Team selection while also being a Senior CLASS Award finalist and Senior CLASS Award All-American. She was also the Conference USA Female Student Athlete of the Year (all sports) and CUSA's Player of the Year after a senior season in which she hit .476 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs while logging 13 doubles, six triples, 39 stolen bases and 48 runs scored.

Following the season, Zerkle joined the USA Women's National Team, whom she has played for since that time. In the 2022 Pan American Championship, Zerkle hit .562 with four RBIs and eight runs scored to lead Team USA to the gold medal.

Zerkle also was taken as the No. 26 overall selection in the National Pro Fastpitch Draft by Scrap Yard Dawgs, which began her professional softball career. In addition to her roles with the USA National Team, Zerkle has also competed with Athletes Unlimited since 2020.

"It's been an amazing privilege to represent Marshall and the state of West Virginia on a global stage with Team USA and Athletes Unlimited," Zerkle said. "I am so proud of where I started, where I've been and where I'm ending up again."

Zerkle is a Cabell Midland graduate where she also played for former Marshall player Jeanne Lunsford (Noble).

MORGAN ZERKLE FILE
Coaching career
2023: Miami (Ohio) – Assistant (39-20, MAC Champions, NCAA Tournament)
2022: Miami (Ohio) – Assistant (40-17-1, MAC Champions, NCAA Tournament)
2021: Miami (Ohio) – Assistant (46-10, MAC Champions, NCAA Tournament)
2020: Miami (Ohio) – Assistant (12-8)
2019: Indiana – GA (36-21)
2018: Indiana – GA (26-30)

Playing career at Marshall
2017: GP 51, GS 51 - .476 BA, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 39 SB
2016: GP 34, GS 33 - .482 BA, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 28 SB
2015: GP 50, GS 50 - .506 BA, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 47 SB
2014: GP 59, GS 59 - .358 BA, 0 HR, 20 RBI, 48 SB

Other Notables
2022: Pan American Championship – Team USA (Gold Medal)
2017: World Cup of Softball – Team USA (Silver Medal)
2017: Japan Cup – Team USA (Silver Medal)
2016: World Cup of Softball – USA Elite Team

Name	Title	Email Address
Morgan Zerkle	Head Softball Coach	Marshallsoftball@marshall.edu
Aly Harrell	Assistant Coach	Marshallsoftball@marshall.edu
Riley Blampied	Assistant Coach	Marshallsoftball@marshall.edu
Drew Calloway	Pitching Coach	Marshallsoftball@marshall.edu

Name	Title	Phone	Email Address
Becky Kaliher	Assistant Athletic Trainer (SB)	5713	kaliher@marshall.edu
Olivia Bruno	Graduate Manager		brunoo@marshall.edu

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