Marshall University Athletics
Softball
Morgan Zerkle
- Title:
- Head Softball Coach
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).
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.”
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.
Year three for the Herd under Zerkle saw the program return to its first NCAA Tournament since 2017, Zerkle’s senior season at MU. Marshall continued to elevate, finishing 2026 with 38 wins (seven more from 2025) and 17 league victories (two more from 2025). Marshall stepped up to the challenge with the schedule it made, raising to as high as 20 in the National RPI. Marshall returned to the rankings for the first time since 2017 and set the program’s all-time home run mark with 95 hit. Sophomore transfer and Ona native Sydni Burko hit 24 home runs, a new single-season individual mark, while being named the SBC Player of the Year, Marshall’s first league player of the year since Zerkle in 2017. Burko was also named the league’s Newcomer of the Year and a First Team All-Conference member, something MU has had in all three seasons under Zerkle.
Following the historic 2026 season,
Marshall Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald J. Harrison announced on Thursday that Marshall Softball head coach Morgan Zerkle has agreed to a contract extension to remain as the leader of the Herd.
The contract extension runs through the 2030 season with provisions that could extend the deal for future seasons, as well.
“Morgan Zerkle represents everything we want Marshall Softball and Marshall Athletics to be,” Harrison said. “She is an elite coach, an incredible mentor for young women and a relentless competitor who has built a championship-caliber culture rooted in the Herd Mentality. Under her leadership, our softball program has achieved historic success while continuing to elevate the student-athlete experience in every way – academically, athletically, personally and within our community.”
“Marshall University continues to give me the opportunities of a lifetime, and I am thrilled to continue serving the community and people that I love so much,” Zerkle said. “I want to thank President Brad Smith and Athletic Director Gerald Harrison for their belief in me and support of an ambitious softball program that I hope to keep building for years to come. I also want to thank my student-athletes and their families for their trust, loyalty and love. I couldn’t do it without them. Go Herd!”
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.
The Milton, W.Va., native returned 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 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
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).
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.”
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.
Year three for the Herd under Zerkle saw the program return to its first NCAA Tournament since 2017, Zerkle’s senior season at MU. Marshall continued to elevate, finishing 2026 with 38 wins (seven more from 2025) and 17 league victories (two more from 2025). Marshall stepped up to the challenge with the schedule it made, raising to as high as 20 in the National RPI. Marshall returned to the rankings for the first time since 2017 and set the program’s all-time home run mark with 95 hit. Sophomore transfer and Ona native Sydni Burko hit 24 home runs, a new single-season individual mark, while being named the SBC Player of the Year, Marshall’s first league player of the year since Zerkle in 2017. Burko was also named the league’s Newcomer of the Year and a First Team All-Conference member, something MU has had in all three seasons under Zerkle.
Following the historic 2026 season,
Marshall Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald J. Harrison announced on Thursday that Marshall Softball head coach Morgan Zerkle has agreed to a contract extension to remain as the leader of the Herd.
The contract extension runs through the 2030 season with provisions that could extend the deal for future seasons, as well.
“Morgan Zerkle represents everything we want Marshall Softball and Marshall Athletics to be,” Harrison said. “She is an elite coach, an incredible mentor for young women and a relentless competitor who has built a championship-caliber culture rooted in the Herd Mentality. Under her leadership, our softball program has achieved historic success while continuing to elevate the student-athlete experience in every way – academically, athletically, personally and within our community.”
“Marshall University continues to give me the opportunities of a lifetime, and I am thrilled to continue serving the community and people that I love so much,” Zerkle said. “I want to thank President Brad Smith and Athletic Director Gerald Harrison for their belief in me and support of an ambitious softball program that I hope to keep building for years to come. I also want to thank my student-athletes and their families for their trust, loyalty and love. I couldn’t do it without them. Go Herd!”
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.
The Milton, W.Va., native returned 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 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
Sunday, May 17
Friday, May 15
Wednesday, May 13
Monday, May 11
