Piper Ritter

Biography

Piper Ritter was named the eighth head coach in program history on May 3, 2020 after 13 seasons as the Gophers pitching coach. The 2024 season marks her fourth year as the Gopher head coach and 17th year with the program as a coach. The Former Minnesota standout pitcher has developed five of the top hurlers in Minnesota softball history in Briana Hassett, Sara Moulton, Sara Groenewegen, Amber Fiser, and Autumn Pease. Ritter has also developed top players outside of the circle in Sara Groenewegen, Kendyl Lindaman, and now Jess Oakland as 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year. During her fourth season as head coach, the Golden Gophers finished the 2024 season with a fifth place conference finish. Minnesota saw four All-Big Ten selections, including two first team honorees in Taylor Krapf and Jess Oakland, and two second teamers in Sydney Strelow and Morgan DeBord. Oakland was named 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year and was also an NFCA Second Team All-American. Oakland is the third Gopher to receive All-American distinction in the last two seasons. In 2023, Ritter led the Gophers to a third place conference finish, appearance in the Big Ten Tournament semi final and NCAA Seattle Regional berth as the No. 2 seed. Along with six All-Big Ten selections, the Gophers led the entire conference with five first team caliber players and Ritter’s fourth Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in Autumn Pease. Minnesota also had an All-American battery in Pease and Taylor Krapf, the first All-American select