Jen Walter, who has served as the University of Minnesota Duluth's softball head coach since the summer of 2015, and propelled Bulldog Softball to a new level of competitive excellence, is leaving the Bulldog staff. She has accepted an assistant coaching position with the University of St. Thomas (Division I).
 
"I came to Duluth in 1999 thinking I would be up here for five years, now 22 years later I find myself heading back down to the cities for a job that was just too exciting to pass up," said Walter. "My time in Duluth has been remarkable. I've loved Duluth and I've loved my job. Working under Josh Berlo (UMD Athletic Director) and Karen Stromme (UMD Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women's Administrator) at UMD has been so rewarding. I cannot thank them enough for the opportunity and support they have given me and the softball program. I'm proud of what we've accomplished in my six years, which is reflective of the alumni support, quality players, and family atmosphere that is ingrained throughout the UMD softball program. It's been an honor."
 
Coach Walter directed the Bulldogs to a 186-98 overall record, a 102-40 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, and three NCAA II Tournament berths and one Regional Championship (2018). In addition, she has helped produce three All-Americans, six different All-Regional selections and seventeen All-NSIC picks (headlined by three-time honorees Hannah Schmoll, Becky Smith and Natalie Wright). Her Bulldogs have also excelled in the classroom during that time as well, earning NSIC All-Academic Team distinction 41 times and NFCA Scholar-Athlete Award status on 27 occasions.  
 
"The contributions that Coach Walter has made to Bulldog Softball will long be felt and recognized. She lifted the program competitively, instilled an incredible work ethic in her teams while concurrently developing the character of her young women. We will always be proud to call Jen a Bulldog and look forward to cheering her on at Division I St. Thomas. Moreover, we are fully committed to building on the strong foundation and success fostered during Coach Walter's tenure at UMD." -- complimented UMD Athletic Director Josh Berlo.
 
"Coach Walter has made a significant impact on our Bulldog softball program," said UMD Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women's Administrator Karen Stromme. "She has fostered a culture of success not only in competition but in the classroom and in the community. We are excited for her to be able to take this next step in her career." 
 
In 2019, Walter's team established a program record for NSIC wins by going 22-8 against conference competition while securing a second straight invitation to the NCAA II playoffs. This came one year after she took UMD to new heights as the Bulldogs concluded the season with a 44-16 record and the program's first-ever appearance into the NCAA II Super Regionals. In the process, UMD set or equaled 35 school records and added additions to their All-American list in Becky Smith, Hannah Schmoll and Natalie Wright. That same spring, Walter became the fastest coach in the program's storied history to post 100 victories. She reached the triple-digit mark, achieving it in 145 games to the previous holder of the milestone mark, UMD Athletic Hall of Famer Bill Haller, who needed 147 outings to do so. 
 
Prior to signing on as UMD's third head softball coach since the 1981-82 season, Walter spent the  previous 16 seasons at the College of St. Scholastica, having seen her Saints go 447-233 in all games (for a .657 winning percentage), making five NCAA Division III Tournament appearances (2006, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015), winning 15 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference regular season championships and another 13 UMAC Tournament titles, and paying one visit to the NAIA National Tournament (2004).  
 
Inducted as a player into the 2010 Minnesota High School Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Walter received a B.A. degree in health, physical education and recreation from Augustana in 1986.
 
A national search for Walter's replacement will begin immediately.