Story courtesy of Northern Illinois Athletic Communications

DEKALB, Ill. -- Kathryn Gleason, an Illinois native who has guided two programs to the NCAA Tournament, has been hired to lead the Northern Illinois University softball program, NIU Vice President/Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier announced on Tuesday (July 2). Gleason joins the Huskies following nine seasons at Northern Kentucky, where she led the Norse to a Horizon League championship and NCAA Tournament bid in 2023.
 
"We are excited to welcome Kathryn Gleason as the new head coach of the NIU softball program," said Frazier. "She has built championship programs at each of her previous stops as a head coach and we look forward to her bringing that championship pedigree to NIU. As a Chicagoland native, she has extensive ties to this region and is the perfect fit to lead Huskie softball forward."
 
Gleason, who was also the head coach at Boston University for three seasons, has amassed nearly 250 victories during her career. She has earned 173 of those wins at Northern Kentucky, the second-most in program history.
 
"I am honored to become the next Head Softball Coach at Northern Illinois University," said Gleason. "I want to thank Sean Frazier, Randi Napientek, Chris Barker, Lisa DeRango, and Dee Abrahamson for all they did to assist in helping make this opportunity possible.  I am excited to lead this program that has such a storied history, and to come back home to the state of Illinois."
 
This past season, Gleason guided the Norse to a 27-win campaign and a runner-up finish in the Horizon League Tournament. Northern Kentucky had six players earn conference honors, including the Horizon League Co-Defensive Player of the Year Maddie Lacer, four all-league selections and one all-freshman team honoree.
 
In 2023, Gleason led Northern Kentucky to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and she was named Horizon League Coach of the Year. The Norse earned their first win over a Power Five conference program as they defeated Michigan State, 3-1, while off the field, Northern Kentucky had a team GPA of 3.63, which ranked in the top-30 in NCAA Division I softball.
 
During her nine seasons at Northern Kentucky, Gleason mentored 22 All-Horizon League selections, eight Horizon League All-Freshman Team honorees, 11 Horizon League All-Tournament honorees and two Horizon League Defensive Players of the Year.
 
Prior to taking over at Northern Kentucky, Gleason was the head coach at Boston University for three seasons from 2013-15. In 2014, she led the Terriers to a 36-win season, a Patriot League Tournament championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Boston University defeated Louisville in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, recording the first tournament win by a Patriot League school since 2009.
 
Gleason's coaching career began as an assistant at UMass between 1997-2000, where she helped them to four consecutive Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament championships, as well as trips to the Women's College World Series in 1997 and '98.
 
The Country Club Hills, Illinois, native then spent three seasons at Purdue (2002-04) as an assistant coach, followed by six at Michigan State (2005-10), the last five of which she served as associate head coach. Gleason returned to UMass as associate head coach for two years (2011-12), helping them to conference regular season and tournament titles and a NCAA Tournament appearance, before taking over as head coach at Boston University.
 
Gleason played collegiately at Michigan from 1993-96, helping the Wolverines win three Big Ten regular season crowns (1993, '95, '96) and two tournament titles (1995, '96). She also helped Michigan reach the Women's College World Series twice (1995, '96). Gleason earned her bachelor's degree in sport management and communications from Michigan in 1996 and her master's degree in sport management from UMass in 2001. Gleason attended Marian Catholic High School and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2002.
 
 
What People Are Saying About Coach Gleason
 
"I am thrilled that Kathryn is the new coach. I think she is the perfect fit for NIU and one of the greatest leaders I've ever known. She leads with passion for her players and builds a team based on great culture. She will be very successful at Northern Illinois and is a great choice." Carol Hutchins, Special Advisor to the Athletic Director/Former Michigan Softball Head Coach
 
"I am thrilled for both NIU and Kathryn. I believe she is the perfect choice to restore NIU to the MAC elite. Not only does she have a wealth of experience, but she is also one of the finest humans I have ever known." Jacquie Joseph, Michigan State Assistant AD for Sport Administration/Former Head Softball Coach
 
"I couldn't be happier that Huskie Softball and Coach Gleason are connecting.  We recruited her while she was in high school and now, three decades later, she is indeed a Huskie!  Good things come to those who wait, and the softball student-athletes, families, alumni and friends of the program are the recipients of our good fortune.  She is a fantastic person, nationally prominent in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, and an accomplished NCAA Division I head coach with a long tradition of recruiting and developing her players as young women and softball players." Dee Abrahamson, Former NIU Head Softball Coach and Administrator
 
"Kathryn is one of the finest human beings I know. She can recruit, coach, and elevate the game. She treats her players like family and takes care of them on and off the field. She has won at every spot that she has been in and has incredible experience both coaching and playing and will be wonderful for NIU. She knows the Midwest region and can connect with players at every level." Jen McIntyre, Former Assistant Coach under Gleason at Boston University/Investor in Softball America