In just her first season leading South Carolina softball, head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard has been named the National Coach of the Year by D1Softball — and it’s easy to see why.
What Chastain Woodard accomplished in 2025 was nothing short of extraordinary. Taking over a program picked to finish 15th in the SEC preseason poll, she orchestrated one of the most dramatic turnarounds in collegiate softball this year. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks posted a 44-17 overall record, their most wins since 2002 and the highest total ever by a first-year head coach in program history.
More than just a winning season, Chastain Woodard led South Carolina into the national spotlight. The Gamecocks climbed as high as No. 9 in the NFCA rankings, secured a national seed for the first time in modern program history, and advanced to their first NCAA Super Regional since 2018 — only the third in school history.
Carolina’s 13-11 SEC record marked just the second winning conference season in the last 22 years, shattering expectations and showcasing the culture shift already underway in Columbia.
But the success didn’t stop at wins. The Gamecocks were a statistical powerhouse in 2025, setting or tying five team records: runs (363), RBIs (342), walks (256), doubles (98), and fielding percentage (.980). They also tied the program mark for sacrifice flies (26) and had the second-fewest errors (33) ever recorded in a full season.
On an individual level, slugger Arianna Rodi made history with a single-season record 17 home runs and 49 walks. Teammate Quincee Lilio also broke the previous walk record, tallying 45.
The Gamecocks’ resume includes series wins over six top-20 opponents, including four over teams ranked in the top 15. They opened the season with a 20-0 streak — tying a program-best start dating back to 1976 — and wrapped up the regular season with the third-most wins against top-25 RPI opponents in the nation (17).
Chastain Woodard now holds an overall head coaching record of 198-113 through six seasons, and this year marked her first appearance in an NCAA Super Regional. With three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths under her belt, she’s quickly building a reputation as one of the brightest minds in college softball.
One season in, and it’s already clear: Coach Chastain Woodard isn’t just reviving South Carolina softball — she’s redefining it.
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