SLU softball’s head coach Christy Connoyer notched her 400th win with the Billikens on Saturday, March 21, coaching against the Loyola Ramblers. The Billikens split the weekend series with the Ramblers 2-1, taking both games on Saturday 6-0 and 8-0 before losing 2-4 on Sunday. SLU now sits at 5-4 in Atlantic 10 play, sitting fifth overall in the standings.
SLU finished second in the A-10 standings last season, before taking home the conference hardware in the tournament. That win marked SLU’s first-ever A-10 softball championship and the program’s first berth in the NCAA tournament.
Connoyer won A-10 Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2025, respectively, and led her squad to a regular-season conference championship in 2023. Under Connoyer, at least one Billiken has been named to an All-Region Team every season, including first-teamers Alex Nickel and Cami Newbanks in 2015 and 2024, respectively. Most recently, Abby Mallo and Taylor Hochman earned second and third-team honors, marking the sixth consecutive year with Billikens on the teams.
Five Billikens have earned major A-10 postseason awards under Connoyer’s tenure, with Gabbie Kowalik and Isabel Royle winning Rookie of the Year in 2019 and 2024, Brianna Lore winning Pitcher of the Year in 2014, Chloe Rhine winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 and Mallo winning Player of the Year in 2025.
Sophomore right-hand pitcher and utility player Kate Proffitt said the team has experienced a lot of growth due to Connoyer’s impact as head coach.
“There have been countless opportunities for leadership given that we have a younger team this season,” Proffitt said. “[Connoyer] has a great, positive outlook on everything. She pushes us to become better not only on the softball field but also in the classroom and in our community.”
Connoyer stands as SLU’s longest tenured head coach, with a 400-388 record, which she will look to improve against the Rhode Island Rams in this weekend’s series starting Saturday, March 28, at the Billiken Sports Center.
