Price Joins Ashland University As Head Softball Coach

On Wednesday (June 19) morning, Ashland University Director of Athletics Al King announced the hire of Jackie Price as the Eagles' head softball coach.
 
"When you meet Jackie, what comes across early in the conversation is that she's competitive and driven to succeed," King said. "That's succeed on the field, in the classroom and in life. There's a fire burning there that isn't going to be extinguished. That's what we need right now, someone who's not afraid of challenges. You get the feeling that she relishes attacking obstacles head-on. She's not looking for shortcuts, she's looking for student-athletes who are in the program for the long haul.
 
"I'm happy to welcome her to Ashland and help her implement her vision."
 
Said Price, "I think that it's such a great opportunity. I'm just completely grateful to get the opportunity. It's a good fit for me, and I think we're going to do some really good things.
 
"Talking to the current players, they are ready to work and ready to get after it."
 
Price becomes just the fifth Ashland head softball coach in the fastpitch era (since 1983). She comes to AU following eight seasons as head softball coach at her alma mater, Ohio Northern.
 
Guiding the Polar Bears, Price had a winning record every season, and had a cumulative record of 178-112-1 (.613). Ohio Northern won the Ohio Athletic Conference championship in both the regular season and tournament in 2022, and the OAC tournament title in 2018 and 2021.
 
Price guided ONU to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2018 – a season in which she earned OAC Coach of the Year honors. She and her staff were named OAC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2022.
 
In 2015 and 2016, Price was the head softball coach at D-III Hiram. She started her coaching career with assistant coaching stints at D-III John Carroll and Muskingum.
 
The 2025 season will be Price's 11^th as a collegiate softball head coach.
 
"A lot of it is just growing and becoming who I was meant to be as a head coach. You have to stay open-minded and know that you are going to keep growing," said Price. "I was challenged at Ohio Northern. It's definitely prepared me for this opportunity. It's definitely been a good foundation for who I am as a coach."
 
As a player at Ohio Northern, the 2012 graduate was a two-time All-American, two-time OAC Player of the Year and three-time first-team All-OAC selection.
 
Price is the program's all-time leader with 45 career home runs, which includes a school-record 21 during her junior year. She also ranks second all-time in RBI (179), third in runs scored (172) and fourth in hits (222), walks (79) and slugging percentage (.735).
 
Her .392 career batting average stands eighth-best all-time for the Polar Bears.
 
At Ashland, Price will guide her team in home games at the Deb Miller Field at the Archer Ballpark Complex.
 
"That's definitely a really big draw that I saw when I came on campus to visit," she said. "The facility is phenomenal, so I am super excited to get started."
 
Price is married to David Price, head football coach at Lake Erie. They have two sons, Malcolm and Cameron.