Softball Hires Williamsville South Grad Chelsea Plimpton as New Pitching Coach
6/7/2024 2:27:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – University at Buffalo softball Head Coach Mike Ruechel announced the hiring of Williamsville native Chelsea Plimpton as the program's new pitching coach.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Chelsea to Buffalo," stated Head Coach Mike Ruechel. "She will bring enthusiasm and excitement along with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She's a proven winner as a player and coach who will do a great job leading our pitching staff."
Plimpton most recently spent time with the Villanova Wildcats from 2019-23. While at Villanova, the Wildcats went 120-74 for a .619 winning percentage. During her time at Villanova, the Wildcats won back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament Titles in 2021 and 2022. She helped the program reach their fourth consecutive BIG EAST Tournament Title game in 2023. In their 2022 title run, the Wildcats' pitching staff became the third staff in the BIG EAST Tournament to not allow a run in 2022. In conference play the Wildcats were 49-15 (.766) and went 9-3 in the BIG EAST Tournament in three seasons.
Prior to Villanova, Plimpton spent three seasons with the UMass Minutewomen from 2017-19. While at UMass, the Minutewomen went 90-60 (.600), including 21-0 in Atlantic 10 play in 2018. In that season, she worked with Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year in freshman Kiara Oliver who won the league's pitching triple crown with 18 wins, 173 strikeouts and a 2.37 ERA. Oliver earned Second-Team NFCA All-Region honors.
During her own collegiate playing career Plimpton played at Fordham from 2009-11. She was a member of the Rams 2010 and 2011 teams which advanced to NCAA Regionals. Plimpton ranked third in school history in strikeouts and shutouts and was part of a pitching staff which led the entire nation in ERA with a 1.34 mark for the season. She went 11-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 93 1/3 innings in 2010, then recorded 17 wins with 149 strikeouts and a 2.26 ERA as a senior in 2011. She began her collegiate career at St. John's and pitched 33 1/3 innings as a freshman during the 2007 season.
Plimpton began her coaching career as an assistant coach at St. Lawrence during the 2011-12 academic year. She went on to hold assistant coaching positions at Marist (2012), Fordham (2013) and Towson (2014-16) before her stint at Massachusetts.
Plimpton graduated from Fordham with a degree in Communication in 2011.
The Williamsville South grad played for the Billies from 2003-07. To this day, she still holds 11 top-15 New York State records.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Chelsea to Buffalo," stated Head Coach Mike Ruechel. "She will bring enthusiasm and excitement along with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She's a proven winner as a player and coach who will do a great job leading our pitching staff."
Plimpton most recently spent time with the Villanova Wildcats from 2019-23. While at Villanova, the Wildcats went 120-74 for a .619 winning percentage. During her time at Villanova, the Wildcats won back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament Titles in 2021 and 2022. She helped the program reach their fourth consecutive BIG EAST Tournament Title game in 2023. In their 2022 title run, the Wildcats' pitching staff became the third staff in the BIG EAST Tournament to not allow a run in 2022. In conference play the Wildcats were 49-15 (.766) and went 9-3 in the BIG EAST Tournament in three seasons.
Prior to Villanova, Plimpton spent three seasons with the UMass Minutewomen from 2017-19. While at UMass, the Minutewomen went 90-60 (.600), including 21-0 in Atlantic 10 play in 2018. In that season, she worked with Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year in freshman Kiara Oliver who won the league's pitching triple crown with 18 wins, 173 strikeouts and a 2.37 ERA. Oliver earned Second-Team NFCA All-Region honors.
During her own collegiate playing career Plimpton played at Fordham from 2009-11. She was a member of the Rams 2010 and 2011 teams which advanced to NCAA Regionals. Plimpton ranked third in school history in strikeouts and shutouts and was part of a pitching staff which led the entire nation in ERA with a 1.34 mark for the season. She went 11-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 93 1/3 innings in 2010, then recorded 17 wins with 149 strikeouts and a 2.26 ERA as a senior in 2011. She began her collegiate career at St. John's and pitched 33 1/3 innings as a freshman during the 2007 season.
Plimpton began her coaching career as an assistant coach at St. Lawrence during the 2011-12 academic year. She went on to hold assistant coaching positions at Marist (2012), Fordham (2013) and Towson (2014-16) before her stint at Massachusetts.
Plimpton graduated from Fordham with a degree in Communication in 2011.
The Williamsville South grad played for the Billies from 2003-07. To this day, she still holds 11 top-15 New York State records.
- Most Career Wins / 109 / Third All-Time
- Lowest ERA in a Season / 0.10 (2005) / 11th All-Time
- Lowest ERA in a Career / 0.34 / Eighth All-Time
- Career No-Hitters / 16 / Tied for Eighth All-Time
- Most Perfect Games in a Season / 3 three times / Tied for Fifth All-Time
- Career Perfect Games / 10 / Second All-Time
- Most Shutouts in a Season / 22 (2006) / Second All-Time
- Most Shutouts in a Season / 19 (2005) / Tied for Ninth All-Time
- Career Shutouts / 78 / First All-Time
- Most Strikeouts in a Game / 23 (2005) / Tied for Eighth All-Time
- Most Strikeouts in a Season / 411 (2006) / First All-Time
- Most Strikeouts in a Season / 407 (2007) / Second All-Time
- Career Strikeouts / 1,427 / Third All-Time
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