University of Minnesota Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Player Development Coordinator
- Email:
Autumn Pease returned to the University of Minnesota softball program in 2026 as the team’s Player Development Coordinator following a decorated collegiate and a continued successful professional career that has established her as one of the top pitchers in the country.
A Gopher alumna, Pease graduated from Minnesota in 2023 with a degree in kinesiology after putting together one of the most accomplished pitching careers in program history. In her senior season, she earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honors while collecting NFCA Second Team All-America and D1Softball Second Team All-America recognition, in addition to All-Big Ten First Team accolades. She led the conference in ERA (1.46), strikeouts (273), and wins (27), highlighted by a 12-game win streak, four Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors, and a stretch of 21 consecutive scoreless innings.
Pease carried her success into the professional ranks, competing in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) League. She captured back-to-back league championships, first with the Texas Smoke in 2024 and again with the Atlanta Smoke in 2025. Following her standout 2024 campaign, she was named WPF Pitcher of the Year.
In addition to her playing career, Pease has built a strong coaching résumé. She served as the pitching coach at Crown College in 2024, where she provided individualized instruction and video analysis. She has also worked with Catalyst Softball in Minneapolis, directing the High-Performance Pitching Program with an emphasis on biomechanics, injury prevention, and individualized development plans.
Off the field, Pease was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and a consistent member of the Academic All-Big Ten Team during her time at Minnesota.
In her current role, Pease oversees player development for the Gophers, utilizing her experience as a championship-level pitcher and coach to support the growth of Minnesota’s student-athletes.
