Jessica Bracamonte has been named the head softball coach at the University of Toledo, vice president and director of athletics Bryan Blair announced Tuesday. Bracamonte is the 12th head coach in program history and arrives at Toledo after serving as an assistant coach at Duke University for the past four seasons.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jessica to the Toledo Rockets family,” Blair said. “She brings great energy and experience to this role, from being a Big Ten student-athlete to 10-plus years working on very successful Division I coaching staffs. The future of Toledo Softball is bright, and we are fortunate to have Jessica leading our program.”
Bracamonte replaces Joe Abraham, who resigned as head coach following the end of the 2022 season.
“I am beyond excited to be returning to the MAC as head coach at The University of Toledo,” Bracamonte said. “I am so thankful God has led me to such a great institution with a really special group of people who genuinely care about our student-athletes. This opportunity would not be possible without the love and support of my family and mentors throughout every step of this journey.
“I would like to thank Bryan Blair and (Senior Associate Athletic Director) Kelly Andrews for entrusting me to lead the young women in our program on and off the field. The vision we share of competing for championships while building a culture of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in life far beyond their collegiate careers is special, and I am eager to move it forward.”
Duke compiled a 110-23 record with Bracamonte on the coaching staff from 2019-22. She coached outfielders, slappers and assisted with overall offensive strategies. In the 2022 campaign, Bracamonte helped the Blue Devils achieve their first-ever 40-win regular season and NCAA Super Regional appearance. Duke also was ranked No. 12 in the final ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings, and the Blue Devils’ staff was tabbed as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Southeast Region Staff of the Year for a second-straight season. Bracamonte also mentored six All-ACC selections this past season, including All-Americans Jameson Kavel and Peyton St. George.
Bracamonte is no stranger to the Mid-American Conference. She served six years as the assistant coach at Central Michigan from 2013-19, focusing on hitters and outfielders. She helped guide the Chippewas to a MAC Tournament appearance every year and a regular-season title in 2017.
Bracamonte helped players succeed on and off the field during her time in Mt. Pleasant. Nineteen Chippewas earned All-MAC honors (12 first-team, seven second-team) and four All-Freshman selections with Katelyn Rentschler being named MAC Player of the Year and Sara Hensen Freshman of the Year in 2015. In five of her six seasons at CMU, at least one outfielder was placed on the all-conference or NFCA All-Region Team. Her guidance also developed six all-time record holders at CMU, with those players making a total of 54 appearances in the Chippewas’ record book. Academically, Bracamonte oversaw 48 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, 24 Academic All-MAC members and one MAC Nan Harvey Award winner.
In addition to coaching and academics, Bracamonte served as the liaison for the program’s community service, and helped the program earn the 2019 Community Leadership Award behind 1,249.75 hours of community service work. The CMU softball program earned the Dick Enberg Team Leadership Award, which goes to the Chippewa team that best meets five criteria: grade point average, academic progress rate, community service, athletic performance and commitment to excellence, two times while on staff.
As a student-athlete, Bracamonte was a four-year starter at Michigan State from 2008-11. In her senior year, she led the Big Ten with four triples while hitting .328, slugging .458, and driving in a team-high 28 runs, and earned the 2011 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Additionally, she earned Student-Athlete of the Month, Big Ten Player of the Week and All-BIG Ten Tournament Team accolades during her career. In the classroom, Bracamonte was honored as an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and Academic Excellence Gala Honoree.
A Hacienda Heights, Calif. native, Bracamonte played professionally with the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch League.
Bracamonte earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Michigan State in 2012 and began her coaching career as a student assistant at her alma mater. She then earned a master’s degree in sports administration from CMU in 2016.
Bracamonte’s introduction and official press conference will be held on Thursday, July 7, at 1 p.m. in the Grogan Room of Savage Arena.
