Jennifer Teague, former head coach at Buffalo and assistant at Michigan State, was named Columbia’s head coach, Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, director of intercollegiate athletics and physical education, announced.
“Jennifer has significant coaching experience at all levels of collegiate and professional softball," Murphy said. "She has experience coaching in the Northeast and has recruited talented student-athletes on the field and off. Jennifer is the right person to lead our softball program.”
Teague coached on the Michigan State staff for the 2013-14 season after serving five-years as the head coach at Buffalo.
In her tenure at Buffalo, where she was just the second head coach in program history, Teague mentored seven All-Mid-American Conference selections. Under Teague, Buffalo received it’s first postseason recognition for a pitcher since 2004 (Tori Speckman), and freshman Alexis Curtiss became just the third Buffalo player ever to be named first-team All-MAC in 2012.
Ten Buffalo players set single-season program records for the Division I era under her tutelage, while 10 individual and nine team single-game records were established during Teague’s tenure.
In 2012, Teague led Buffalo to its best offensive season in school history, setting program bests in batting average, home runs, doubles and total bases. In 2011, Teague helped coach players on to both the All-MAC second team and the All-MAC freshman team. Teague led Buffalo to just its second trip to the Mid-American Conference tournament. In her first season with Buffalo, Teague led the Bulls to a record of 25-27 (7-15 MAC), which tied the most wins in a single season in Buffalo's Division I softball era.
Prior to her time at Buffalo, Teague spent three years as the top assistant and pitching coach at Eastern Michigan. She also spent two seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Force of the National Pro Fastpitch League.
At Eastern Michigan, the Eagles had a 70-80 overall record in the three years Teague was on staff, including a 33-25 conference mark. The 2007 team finished first in the MAC West and won the overall MAC title, making the team's first NCAA appearance. During the 2007 season, Teague helped the Eagles to a 2.83 team ERA, including seven shutouts. The pitching staff also limited opposing batters to a .245 average.
Following the 2007 collegiate season, Teague joined the Philadelphia Force. She took over the coaching reins midseason when the team was 7-9. With Teague at the helm, the Force went 17-11 and missed the playoffs after coming in a three-way tie for the last spot. While on staff, Teague helped the team lower its ERA and raise its batting average.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Teague was a volunteer assistant coach at Michigan during the Wolverine's national championship season. The Wolverines were the first team east of the Mississippi River to win a Women's College World Series. Teague was part of a staff that garnered 2005 National Softball Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
A 1999 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan, Teague arrived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, following a four-year head coaching stint with local NAIA school Concordia from 2001-04. Teague's run at Concordia was highlighted by one regional championship and the school's first appearance in the NAIA national championship in 2002.
A member of the NFCA, she started her coaching career as an assistant at her alma mater from 1999-2001 following a distinguished playing career, serving as a two-time co-captain. Teague earned NCCAA All-American honorable mention recognition as a senior (1999) after earning NFCA, NAIA and NCCAA All-Region honors as a junior in 1998. She was also her team's most valuable offensive player in 1998.
“We are committed to achieving excellence in softball and winning Ivy League championships,” Murphy concluded. “Jennifer is the coach that will help us do that. She will help our student-athletes win on and off the field.”