Jenna Blythers recently concluded her second season as an assistant coach for the Oakland University softball program. Blythers joined the Golden Grizzlies in August 2019 after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of Rochester (N.Y.).
Most recently, Blythers guided OU to the championship round at the 2021 Horizon League Tournament for the second time in the last four seasons. The Golden Grizzly offense thrived under Blythers' tutelage, as school records were broken in batting average (.299), slugging percentage (.450), and fewest strikeouts (154). Additionally, Oakland set all-time program bests in winning percentage (.619), conference wins (23), and home wins (18) during the 2021 campaign.
Blythers helped the Golden Grizzlies to a 7-11 mark in her first year as an assistant. Despite a shortened season due to COVID-19, Oakland broke a single-game school record in runs batted in (17 vs. Georgetown, 3/16/19) and led the Horizon League in stolen bases per game (1.11).Â
During her two years at Rochester, the Yellowjackets qualified for the Liberty League Tournament twice and had a total of six All-Liberty League selections, including two who earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honors in 2019.
Before Rochester, Blythers was an assistant coach with travel softball teams around the Pittsburgh area while also assisting with softball camps at the University of Pittsburgh for six years.
Blythers began her playing career at Miami (OH) where she was a two-time All-MAC selection as a pitcher and infielder, earning First Team and All-Freshman honors in 2013 and Second Team honors as a sophomore.Â
Blythers played her final two seasons at Pittsburgh during head coach Lauren Karn's stint as an assistant coach. As a junior in 2015, she was named First Team All-ACC plus earned NFCA Mid-Atlantic Third Team All-Region status. She was a part of the first Pittsburgh softball team to reach the ACC Championship Game and NCAA Regional Final. As a senior, she was a Second Team All-ACC selection. A dual-threat both in the circle and at the plate, Blythers still ranks inside Pittsburgh's top-five in career batting average (.324), single-season at-bats (191), and hits (61), and single-season saves (three).
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Blythers graduated from Pittsburgh in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in media and professional communications with a minor in corporate communications.
