Chelsea Plimpton Hired as Head Softball Coach
5/13/2025 12:51:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, NY – Chelsea Plimpton has been hired as head softball coach at the University at Buffalo, UB Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt announced on Tuesday. Plimpton was elevated to the position after spending last season as an assistant coach on the UB staff.
A Western New York native and standout at Williamsville South High School, Plimpton served as pitching coach for the Bulls for the 2025 season. She was instrumental in recruiting and developing a talented freshman class, led by outfielder Emily Gorman who was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman team after hitting .395 to rank fourth in the conference.
"I'm excited to announce that Chelsea Plimpton has been elevated to head coach of our softball program," Alnutt said. "I, along with Senior Associate Athletic Director for Championship Resources Aaron Stang, personally recruited her back to Buffalo last year when we had an assistant position available. Having the opportunity to see her coach, recruit and interact with our student-athletes this past year, I quickly realized that if an opportunity for her to become a head coach arose, she would be ready to assume the role.
"She brings a wealth of coaching experience and is a fierce competitor which will help propel our student-athletes to success both on and off the field. I'm also pleased to bring back a Buffalo native who has tremendous softball ties to New York and the northeast. I look forward to seeing Chelsea build this program into a consistent winner in the Mid-American Conference."
Plimpton came to Buffalo after serving as an assistant coach at Villanova from 2019-23. While at Villanova, the Wildcats went 120-74 (.619). They 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 single run in the conference tournament. In league 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 at Massachusetts. 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.
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 UMass.
As a player, Plimpton was a standout pitcher at Fordham from 2009-11. She was a member of the Rams 2010 and 2011 teams that advanced to NCAA Regionals. Plimpton ranked third in school history in strikeouts and shutouts and was part of a pitching staff that 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 graduated from Fordham with a degree in communications 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.
Plimpton is the 11th head coach in UB softball history.
What They are Saying
"Chelsea is the perfect hire for the University at Buffalo softball program. She is hardworking, a great recruiter and will have a different type of passion because of her deep ties to the Buffalo area. Being able to coach in your hometown is so uncommon, and she will be able to take the program to new heights."
A Western New York native and standout at Williamsville South High School, Plimpton served as pitching coach for the Bulls for the 2025 season. She was instrumental in recruiting and developing a talented freshman class, led by outfielder Emily Gorman who was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman team after hitting .395 to rank fourth in the conference.
"I'm excited to announce that Chelsea Plimpton has been elevated to head coach of our softball program," Alnutt said. "I, along with Senior Associate Athletic Director for Championship Resources Aaron Stang, personally recruited her back to Buffalo last year when we had an assistant position available. Having the opportunity to see her coach, recruit and interact with our student-athletes this past year, I quickly realized that if an opportunity for her to become a head coach arose, she would be ready to assume the role.
"She brings a wealth of coaching experience and is a fierce competitor which will help propel our student-athletes to success both on and off the field. I'm also pleased to bring back a Buffalo native who has tremendous softball ties to New York and the northeast. I look forward to seeing Chelsea build this program into a consistent winner in the Mid-American Conference."
Plimpton came to Buffalo after serving as an assistant coach at Villanova from 2019-23. While at Villanova, the Wildcats went 120-74 (.619). They 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 single run in the conference tournament. In league 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 at Massachusetts. 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.
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 UMass.
As a player, Plimpton was a standout pitcher at Fordham from 2009-11. She was a member of the Rams 2010 and 2011 teams that advanced to NCAA Regionals. Plimpton ranked third in school history in strikeouts and shutouts and was part of a pitching staff that 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 graduated from Fordham with a degree in communications 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.
Plimpton is the 11th head coach in UB softball history.
What They are Saying
"Chelsea is the perfect hire for the University at Buffalo softball program. She is hardworking, a great recruiter and will have a different type of passion because of her deep ties to the Buffalo area. Being able to coach in your hometown is so uncommon, and she will be able to take the program to new heights."
- Jess Bump – Head Softball Coach Binghamton University
- Bridget Orchard – Head Softball Coach Villanova University
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballUB Softball vs. Akron Double Header (4/30) @ 1pm
Thursday, April 24
UB Softball vs. Canisius Double Header (4/23) @ 1pm
Tuesday, April 22
UB Softball vs. Toledo (4/20) @ 12pm
Monday, April 14
UB Softball vs. Northern Illinois doubleheader (4/12) @ 1pm
Thursday, April 10
