Barry University Athletics

After more than a decade at the helm of the softball program at Barry, Danielle Penner has the Barry University Buccaneers ranked annually among the top of NCAA Division II programs.

She has compiled a 404-203 mark, including a 184-99 record in Sunshine State Conference competition. She led the Bucs to a 44-8 record in 2008, including a 35-game winning streak, to set school records for winning percentage and consecutive wins, as they won the SSC title.

The Bucs went 23-19 in 2016, finishing fourth in the SSC at 15-9. Kayla Ogle became the Bucs' all-time batting champion after finishing her career with a .399 average. She also had a .504 on-base percentage as the best table-setter in program history. Dee Espinosa concluded her career with a .714 slugging percentage, also tops in program history.

Ogle, Espinosa, Cheyanne Head and Megan Copeland all earned first-team All-SSC, while Sam Busekrus was named to the second-team. Copeland joins former star Stephanie Caldwell as the only Buccaneer players to earn first-team all-conference honors all four years. Copeland and Head earned Academic All-District. Ogle and Lynsey Duncan earned NFCA All-South region Honors.

The 2015 team tied for first in the conference at 16-8, but narrowly missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid. Espinosa set all kinds of the batting records as she was selected the SSC Player of the Year, while Penner's tutelage helped pitcher Haley Wiseman earn Freshman of the Year honors.

In 2014, the Bucs went 29-20 as they battled a host of injuries. Megan Copeland and Kayla Ogle both earned first-team All-Sunshine State Conference honors.

In 2013, the Bucs went 34-20 and reached the final of the regional tournament. Sarah Broeseker became just the third Buccaneer in history to win the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year award after hitting .415 with 35 runs, 37 RBI and a .610 slugging percentage. She was Second-Team All-American from the NFCA and Third-Team from Daktronics. She also picked up a First-Team Academic All-America award. Kelly Martinez earned Third-Team All-America from the NFCA. 

The 2012 team advanced back to the NCAA Regional, compiling a 40-11 record. Outfielder Grace Collins became the most decorated player in Barry softball history. She was named Third-Team All-America by Daktronics, earned an NCAA Post-Graduate scholarship, became a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year and the first student-athlete in Barry history to win the President's Award. Jessica Tabor also earned All-Region honors.

In 2011, the Bucs advanced back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008, going 34-14 and 18-5 in the SSC to place third. Collins earned First-Team NFCA All-America honors and tacked on a Third-Team selection from Daktronics. Brianna Smith earned Second-Team honors from the NFCA as a utility pitcher and first baseman Tabor was honorable mention on the Daktronics list. 

Playing with one of the youngest rosters in the SSC, Penner led the Bucs to back-to-back 32 win seasons in 2009 and 2010. Amber Jack picked up an honorable mention All-America nod in 2009, running Penner’s total of All-Americans to eight.

The Bucs enjoyed a special season in 2008, rolling off 35 straight wins to claim the top spot in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association national poll. Barry claimed its fifth SSC title, as Jack was named SSC Pitcher of the Year. Jack, rightfielder Cristina Detagle, second baseman Ashley Likens and designated player Megan Young were all named to various All-America squads.

In 2007, she guided the Bucs to a 44-19 overall record and a #16 final ranking in the NFCA Top-25 Division II post-season poll. Penner led the Bucs to their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a tie for third in the Sunshine State Conference with a 15-9 conference record. Barry also earned the NCAA Statistical Champion Award for lowest team ERA in Division II with a 0.92 team earned run average.

In her first season as head coach, she guided the Bucs back to national prominence with a 39-13 overall record. Barry started the season unranked in the NFCA Top-25 Division II preseason poll, but moved up to eighth in the first regular season poll after a 13-2 start. Behind Penner’s expertise, the Buccaneers finished second in the SSC with an 18-6 league record and made their 12th appearance in the NCAA South Regional tournament.

Her teams have also had success in the classroom. In her 10 seasons, 41 Penner disciples have garnered 78 NFCA Scholar All-America nods. Over her career the Bucs have consistently been a Top-20 academic team, ranking among the best in NCAA Division II in team grade point average.

An assistant coach for the Buccaneers from 2001-2004 under former head coach Shelly Lis, Penner helped lead the team to a fifth-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament, a school-record 52 wins in 2003 and two Sunshine State Conference titles.

From 1998-2000, she worked as the assistant softball coach at her alma mater, California-Pennsylvania.

Penner brings with her over 20 years of camp coaching experience in both the United States and Canada. In 1999, she established the Elite Softball Clinic in Ontario designed to teach the mechanics of fastpitch softball to females between the ages of eight and 18. In 1997 and 1998, she worked the Fastpitch Coaches Showcase with USA Olympic Gold Medalists Lisa Fernandez, Michele Smith, Dani Tyler and Dionne Harris teaching fundamentals and techniques of hitting, fielding and pitching.

One of the most accomplished and decorated pitchers in NCAA Division II softball history, she was voted to the NCAA Division II Silver Anniversary Softball team.

In four seasons at California, Pa., she went 144-15 to set division records for wins and winning percentage (.906). She was also a three-time NFCA All-American and earned national tournament honors in 1996, 1997 and 1998, including MVP in 1997 and 1998 when CUP won the national title.

A dominating force in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, she posted a perfect 80-0 conference record in four seasons, earning all-conference honors each season and MVP honors as a junior and senior.

In 1997, she had one of the best seasons ever for a pitcher. She won a Division II-record 50 games, losing just three times, for a .943 winning percentage. She also posted a national-best 0.51 ERA to lead the Vulcans to their first-ever NCAA Division II national title.

She led CUP back to the national title in 1998, defeating Barry 2-1 in the championship game. That year, she earned NCAA Division II National Softball Player of the Year distinction from the NFCA, which led to her selection as the Honda-Broderick Female Athlete of the Year for Division II. A two-time CUP Athlete of the Year selection in 1997 and 1998, Penner was also nominated to represent CUP as an NCAA Woman of the Year Candidate.

From 1994-97, she was a member of Team Ontario. In 1996, she led the team to the bronze medal at the Canadian national championships, earning MVP honors at the tournament. In 1997 and 1998, she was one of 17 athletes selected to the Canadian National Softball Program.

Penner has been featured in several national publications such as Sports Illustrated (1997 & 1998), People Magazine (1998) and Fitness Magazine (1998). She also authored “Fundamentals of Fastpitch Pitching” in the January 1999 issue of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association magazine.

She graduated from CUP in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management. She holds a master’s degree in sport management and an MBA from Barry University, both earned in 2004.