Caryl Drohan

Biography

Caryl Drohan has been a vital part of the Northwestern staff since she was hired as an assistant coach in 2002, and has spearheaded the Wildcats’ offensive attack since she was promoted to associate head coach in 2005 by her twin sister, head coach Kate Drohan. She came from Hofstra University after spending five years on the coaching staff there­ -- four as an assistant coach and the 2001 season as the associate head coach. On March 27, 2021, Caryl and Kate became Northwestern softball's all-time wins leaders with a 15-7 win over Wisconsin for their 641st career win with the Wildcats. Primarily responsible for hitting, Drohan has led the Wildcats into the offensive upper echelon of the nation, breaking and re-breaking school records in the process. In 2014, the squad's top-to-bottom plate presence resulted in a new school-record .332 team batting average and a program-best 6.55 runs per game. During her tenure, Wildcat batters have earned 12 All-America accolades, and Garland Cooper and Tammy Williams both earned U.S. National Team selection camp invitations. Williams became the first NU hitter to ever make the U.S. National Team in 2010, and she is the only four-time NFCA All-American in school history. Most recently in 2025, Drohan coached first-year Kaylie Avvisato to All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors after leading the team in hits (55), and posting a .355 batting average, highest for a Northwestern rookie since Sabrina Rabin (.394) in 2015. In 2019, Drohan helped first-ye