UMD Athletics

The 5th head softball coach in the last 40 years of the Bulldog softball program, Lynn Anderson who is in her third season at the helm of the UMD program.

Anderson pocketed the 100th win of her career on March 30, 2024 against Wayne State, reaching the milestone faster than any other Bulldog head coach in program history in less than three complete season. Anderson entered the 2024 season with 79 wins in her first two seasons -- the most wins by a UMD softball coach in their first two seasons in program history. Prior to the 2024 season, Anderson was 79-29 overall and led UMD to just its fourth-ever 40-win plus season in 2023, as well as a berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

2023 NSIC Tournament champions, Anderson led the Bulldogs to a 40-13 season a year ago after finishing second in the NSIC's regular season in 2023. Under Anderson, now senior pitcher Lauren DIxon became the 2023 NSIC Pitcher of the Year - UMD's first since the 2003 season. Dixon was a 2023 NFCA and D2CCA All-Central Region First Team selection, as well as a 2023 All-NSIC First Team honree, Dixon set the UMD program record for career strikeouts (585) last spring and owned a 1.50 ERA over 172.2 innings pitched, allowing just 37 runs with a whopping 228 strikeouts. Dixon finished her junior campaign with a 21-5 record, which included 11 shutouts.
 
Anderson led the Grinnell Pioneers from 2018-2022 and set the Pioneers softball conference single season win record by going 13-5 in 2019.  She comes to UMD with an impressive softball background.  Prior to taking over the Pioneers, Anderson spent five seasons as an assistant coach at UW-Oshkosh. Working primarily with hitting and outfielders, she helped the Titans to two consecutive NCAA Division III National Softball Tournament appearances and a regional title in 2017. The Titans compiled a 138-63 record during Anderson's tenure and had 14 All-Great Lakes Region, 26 All-Conference and 50 Conference Scholastic Honor Roll selections. 
  
Anderson has risen quickly through the coaching ranks and maintains a diverse coaching background.  Previous coaching stops have included instructing at the Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) Summer Camp, a volunteer coaching post at the University of Wisconsin (NCAA Division I) and a graduate assistant coaching job at NCAA Division I Valparaiso University. 
 
As a student-athlete, Anderson was a true walk-on who went on to letter four years while playing shortstop for the Wisconsin Badgers.  She was named team captain in 2008 and voted the team's Defensive Player of the Year.  She led the Badgers in home runs (nine), total bases (68), slugging percentage (.489) and assists (118) in 2008, along with being ranked second in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits and RBIs. 
  
Anderson left the Badgers softball program tied for fourth for single-season home runs and fifth in career assists with 311.  Anderson was part of the 2005 Wisconsin squad that made the program's third NCAA Division I National Softball Tournament appearance, and was one of 34 women in the country invited to the USA Baseball Women's National Team Development Program in 2014. 
  
Anderson graduated from UW-Madison in December 2008 with a double major, earning a bachelor's degrees in sociology and a criminal justice certificate. She gained her master's degree in sports administration from Valparaiso in December 2011, graduating with the highest distinction.