Photo by: Kallie Hansel-Tennes/GoDucks.com
Marder Named National Assistant Coach of the Year
07/16/25 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon associate head coach Sam Marder has been named the 2025 Easton/NFCA Division I National Assistant Coach of the Year, the NFCA announced Wednesday. Not only is she the first Duck to win the award, but she is also the first recipient from the Big Ten Conference.
Under Marder's watch, the 2025 offense produced a banner season and helped lead the Ducks to their first Women's College World Series since 2018, 54 wins and a Big Ten regular-season crown.
"Sam goes above and beyond to make sure that all of our student-athletes' training sessions are designed to enhance their specific skill set," said Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi, who herself won NFCA Division I National Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2017 while at Oklahoma. "She is a tireless worker who knows how to get the most out of everyone she coaches.
"Sam has played a crucial role in helping to build the Oregon softball program over the last four seasons. I cannot think of a better or more deserving recipient of this honor than Sam Marder."
Nationally in 2025, Oregon ranked third in hits (583), fourth in scoring (7.67 runs per game), fifth in RBI (438), eighth in batting average (.345), second in stolen bases (175), 10th in on base percentage (.438), 11th in home runs (86), 11th in triples (19) and 14th in slugging percentage (.574). Additionally, the Ducks ranked in the top five of the Big Ten in batting average, hits, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, walks (243), steals and on base percentage.
The team set or tied six program season records in 2025: runs, scoring, RBI, total bases (970), sacrifice flies (25) and stolen bases, and posted the second-best mark in school history in hits, triples, home runs and walks.
Two offensive players earned NFCA All-America second team honors: Kedre Luschar and Rylee McCoy. McCoy tied the school record with 19 home runs and was a Top 3 finalist for the NFCA National Freshman of the Year. She also set the program record for extra base hits with 32. Luschar led the Ducks with a .435 average and 63 RBI.
The Ducks were well-represented among offensive players on the 2025 NFCA All-Region and All-Big Ten teams. Kai Luschar, Kedre Luschar, Rylee McCoy and Paige Sinicki were members of both teams, while Stefini Ma'ake, Kaylynn Jones and McCoy were on the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team.
Under Marder's watch, the 2025 offense produced a banner season and helped lead the Ducks to their first Women's College World Series since 2018, 54 wins and a Big Ten regular-season crown.
"Sam goes above and beyond to make sure that all of our student-athletes' training sessions are designed to enhance their specific skill set," said Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi, who herself won NFCA Division I National Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2017 while at Oklahoma. "She is a tireless worker who knows how to get the most out of everyone she coaches.
"Sam has played a crucial role in helping to build the Oregon softball program over the last four seasons. I cannot think of a better or more deserving recipient of this honor than Sam Marder."
Nationally in 2025, Oregon ranked third in hits (583), fourth in scoring (7.67 runs per game), fifth in RBI (438), eighth in batting average (.345), second in stolen bases (175), 10th in on base percentage (.438), 11th in home runs (86), 11th in triples (19) and 14th in slugging percentage (.574). Additionally, the Ducks ranked in the top five of the Big Ten in batting average, hits, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, walks (243), steals and on base percentage.
The team set or tied six program season records in 2025: runs, scoring, RBI, total bases (970), sacrifice flies (25) and stolen bases, and posted the second-best mark in school history in hits, triples, home runs and walks.
Two offensive players earned NFCA All-America second team honors: Kedre Luschar and Rylee McCoy. McCoy tied the school record with 19 home runs and was a Top 3 finalist for the NFCA National Freshman of the Year. She also set the program record for extra base hits with 32. Luschar led the Ducks with a .435 average and 63 RBI.
The Ducks were well-represented among offensive players on the 2025 NFCA All-Region and All-Big Ten teams. Kai Luschar, Kedre Luschar, Rylee McCoy and Paige Sinicki were members of both teams, while Stefini Ma'ake, Kaylynn Jones and McCoy were on the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team.
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