Jessica Allister
{{short description|American softball coach and catcher (born 1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Jessica Allister
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_title = Head coach
| current_team = Stanford
| current_conference = Pac-12
| current_record = {{winpct|248|129|record=y}}
| contract =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|10|7}}
| birth_place = Moscow, Idaho, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| player_years1 = 2001–2004
| player_team1 = Stanford
| player_years2 = 2004–2005
| player_team2 = New England Riptide
| player_positions = Catcher
| coach_years1 = 2005–2006
| coach_team1 = Georgia (asst.)
| coach_years2 = 2007–2009
| coach_team2 = Stanford (asst.)
| coach_years3 = 2010
| coach_team3 = Oregon (asst.)
| coach_years4 = 2011–2017
| coach_team4 = Minnesota
| coach_years5 = 2018–present
| coach_team5 = Stanford
| admin_years1 =
| admin_team1 =
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|538|236|record=y}}
| tournament_record = NCAA Division I: {{winpct|11|11|record=y}}
| championships =
- 3× Big Ten Tournament (2014, 2016, 2017)
- Big Ten regular season (2017)
| awards =
As player:
- Second-team All-American (2004)
- First-team All-Pac-10 (2004)
- 2× honorable mention All-Pac-10 (2002, 2003)
- Second-team NFCA Pacific All-Region (2001)
As head coach:
- Big Ten Coach of the Year (2017)
- Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2019)
| coaching_records =
| medaltemplates =
| show-medals =
}}
Jessica Lynne Allister (born October 7, 1982) is an American softball coach and former catcher who is the current head coach at Stanford. Allister played college softball at Stanford and earned second-team All-American honors in her senior season of 2004. After a two-year professional softball career with the New England Riptide of National Pro Fastpitch, Allister began a coaching career as an assistant coach at Georgia, Stanford, and Oregon.
From 2011 to 2017, Allister was head coach at Minnesota, where she had 290 wins and five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2013 to 2017. The 2017 Minnesota team set new program records, including single season wins with a 56–5 record, for which Allister won Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. Allister then returned to Stanford to become head coach at her alma mater. Inheriting a struggling Stanford program, Allister led Stanford to an NCAA Tournament appearance in her second season in 2019 and won Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors as a result.
Early life and education
Allister was born in 1982, when her father Derek Allister was a graduate student at the University of Idaho and assistant basketball coach at Moscow High School in Moscow, Idaho.{{Cite web |url=http://www.athletics.sfasu.edu/BBALLMEN/ALLISTER.HTM |title=Derek Allister |access-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970126152831/http://www.athletics.sfasu.edu/BBALLMEN/ALLISTER.HTM|publisher=Stephen F. Austin State University |archive-date=January 26, 1997|url-status=dead}} Allister spent her childhood in the Palouse, San Francisco Bay Area, and Reno, Nevada, when her father was an assistant men's college basketball coach at Washington State, California, and Nevada. At age 11, she moved to Nacogdoches, Texas, when Derek became an assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin in 1993.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/04/09/Allister-named-coach-at-Stephen-F-Austin/3449829022400/|title=Allister named coach at Stephen F. Austin|publisher=United Press International|date=April 9, 1996|accessdate=February 23, 2019}} Allister attended Nacogdoches High School from 1996 to 2000, when Derek was head coach at Stephen F. Austin.{{cite web|url=https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/sports/allister-doesnt-miss-college-basketball/|title=Allister doesn't miss college basketball|work=Tahoe Daily Tribune|date=December 6, 2002|accessdate=February 23, 2019}}
At Stanford University, Allister had a stellar playing career for the Stanford Cardinal softball team. Allister holds the school record for games played with 266. A three-time all-conference selection, she led her team to four appearances in the NCAA tournament and to two trips to the 2001 Women's College World Series. She was the starter for the Cardinal from day one to the end of her playing career. Allister earned second-team NFCA All-American honors and first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2004,{{cite web|url=http://gostanford.com/sports/2004/5/19/208068574.aspx|title=Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I 2004 All-America Teams Announced|publisher=Stanford Cardinal|date=May 26, 2004|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040610153834/http://gostanford.collegesports.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/051904aaa.html|archivedate=June 10, 2004|accessdate=June 9, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://gostanford.com/sports/2004/5/19/208068574.aspx|title=John Rittman Named Pac-10 Softball Coach Of The Year|publisher=Stanford Cardinal|date=May 19, 2004|accessdate=June 9, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040610153834/http://gostanford.collegesports.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/051904aaa.html|archivedate=June 10, 2004|url-status=live}} her senior season during which Stanford again made the Women's College World Series. Allister graduated with her name all throughout the program’s record book, including top-three in many offensive categories (including home runs and RBI) and top-ten in several others.{{cite web|url=http://onlyfans.cstv.com/schools/stan/sports/w-softbl/mtt/allister_jessica00.html|title=Jessica Allister|publisher=Stanford University|date=2004|accessdate=June 9, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050412161910/http://gostanford.collegesports.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/allister_jessica00.html|archivedate=April 12, 2005|url-status=dead}} Allister graduated in 2004 with a degree in economics.
Professional playing career
Allister played the 2004 and 2005 summer seasons as a member of the New England Riptide of National Pro Fastpitch.{{cite web|url=https://gostanford.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/jessica-allister/3909|title=Jessica Allister|publisher=Stanford University|accessdate=February 21, 2021}} In 87 games, Allister had a .197 batting average, 12 RBI, one home run, and a .987 fielding percentage.{{cite web|url=https://npf.805stats.com/player.php?id=22578|title=Jessica Allister NPF Stats|publisher=805 Sports|accessdate=February 21, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224115824/https://npf.805stats.com/player.php?id=22578|archivedate=February 24, 2019|url-status=dead}}
Coaching career
=Early coaching career (2005–2010)=
Allister’s first coaching job was with the University of Georgia under coach Lu Harris-Champer in 2005 and 2006, helping lead the Georgia Bulldogs to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances as well as an SEC championship.
Following her stint with the Bulldogs, Allister went back to her alma mater and joined John Rittman’s coaching staff at Stanford. Under Allister’s tutelage, Rosey Neill won back-to-back conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2008 and 2009. Allister was also a part of the 2009 West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year, as awarded and honored by the NFCA. Allister’s streak of appearances in the NCAA tournament continued, as the Cardinal made the postseason tournament in all three seasons.
Allister’s third assistant coaching position was in 2010 at the University of Oregon as hitting coach, recruiting coordinator, and primary contact for admissions, compliance, and eligibility.{{cite web |url=https://gophersports.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/jessica-allister/254|publisher=University of Minnesota|work=GopherSports.com |title=Jessica Allister |access-date=February 23, 2019|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601170824/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/jessica_allister_761108.html|archive-date=June 1, 2017}}
=Minnesota (2011–2017)=
On August 10, 2010, the University of Minnesota hired Allister hired as the head coach of Minnesota Golden Gophers softball.{{cite web|title= Jessica Allister Named Minnesota Softball Coach|url=https://gophersports.com/news/2010/8/10/Jessica_Allister_Named_Minnesota_Softball_Coach|publisher=University of Minnesota|date=August 10, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921023830/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/081010aaa.html|archivedate=September 21, 2015|url-status=live|accessdate=February 21, 2021}}
In seven seasons at Minnesota from 2011 to 2017, Allister had a career win–loss record of 290–107 and led Minnesota to a program record five straight NCAA Tournaments from 2013 to 2017. The 2013 Minnesota team went 36–19 (14–6 in Big Ten Conference games), the first winning record in conference play since 2003. In 2017, Minnesota set numerous records with a 56–5 record and achieved the first no. 1 national ranking in program history. Under Allister, Minnesota pitcher Sara Groenewegen earned multiple yearly awards including 2015 Big Ten Player of the Year and three consecutive first-team All-American honors from 2015 to 2017. Allister was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2017.
=Stanford (2018–present)=
On July 18, 2017, Allister began her third stint with Stanford softball, this time as head coach.{{cite web|url=https://gostanford.com/news/2017/7/18/softball-allister-named-head-coach.aspx|title=Allister Named Head Coach|publisher=Stanford University|date=July 18, 2017|accessdate=February 21, 2021}} Inheriting a team that went 19–32 (2–22 in Pac-12 Conference play), Allister led the 2018 Stanford team to a 24–31 (3–21 Pac-12) record.{{Cite web|url=https://gostanford.com/sports/softball/schedule/2017|title = 2017 Softball Schedule}} In her second season as head coach, Stanford improved to 33–20 (8–13 Pac-12) and appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, for which Allister won Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors. Stanford began the 2020 season 22–4 before the 2019–20 college sports season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Head coaching record
Sources:{{citation|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/genrel/auto_pdf/2017-18/misc_non_event/2017-18_SOFTBALL.pdf|title=Big Ten Softball Regular Season Standings|page=341|work=2017–18 Big Ten Records Book|publisher=Big Ten Conference|year=2017|access-date=2018-06-10|archive-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140633/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/genrel/auto_pdf/2017-18/misc_non_event/2017-18_SOFTBALL.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://pac-12.com/softball/standings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801074629/http://pac-12.com/softball/standings|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2015|title=Softball Standings}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type=coach | conf= | postseason= | poll=no }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Minnesota Golden Gophers
| startyear = 2011
| conference = Big Ten Conference
| endyear = 2017
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2011
| name = Minnesota
| overall = 31–24
| conference = 9–11
| confstanding = T–6th
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2012
| name = Minnesota
| overall = 31–22
| conference = 10–14
| confstanding = T–9th
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2013
| name = Minnesota
| overall = 36–19
| conference = 14–6
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = NCAA Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2014
| name = Minnesota
| overall = 44–12
| conference = 16–6
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = NCAA Super Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2015
| name = Minnesota
| overall = 49–11
| conference = 20–3
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = NCAA Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2016
| name = Minnesota
| overall = 43–14
| conference = 19–3
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = NCAA Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 2017
| name = Minnesota
| overall = 56–5
| conference = 21–1
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Minnesota
| overall = {{Winning percentage|290|107|record=y}}
| confrecord = {{Winning percentage|109|44|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Stanford Cardinal
| startyear = 2018
| conference = Pac-12 Conference
| endyear = 2024
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2018
| name = Stanford
| overall = 24–31
| conference = 3–21
| confstanding = 8th
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2019
| name = Stanford
| overall = 33–20
| conference = 8–13
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason = NCAA Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2020
| name = Stanford
| overall = 22–4
| conference = 0–0
| confstanding =
| postseason = Season canceled due to COVID-19
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2021
| name = Stanford
| overall = 33–22
| conference = 9–12
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason = NCAA Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2022
| name = Stanford
| overall = 39–20
| conference = 11–13
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = NCAA Super Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2023
| name = Stanford
| overall = 47–15
| conference = 14–10
| confstanding = T–4th
| postseason = Women's College World Series
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2024
| name = Stanford
| overall = 50–17
| conference = 17–3
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = Women's College World Series
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Stanford Cardinal
| startyear = 2025
| conference = Atlantic Coast Conference
| endyear =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season = 2025
| name = Stanford
| overall = 42–13
| conference = 16–8
| confstanding = T–4th
| postseason = NCAA Regional
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Stanford
| overall = {{winpct|290|142|record=y}}
| confrecord = {{winpct|78|80|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = {{Winning percentage|580|249|record=y}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference softball coach navbox}}
{{Stanford Cardinal softball navbox}}
{{Minnesota Golden Gophers softball coach navbox}}
{{Big Ten Conference Softball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{Pac-12 Conference Softball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allister, Jessica}}
Category:American female sports coaches
Category:American softball coaches
Category:Stanford Cardinal softball players
Category:Georgia Bulldogs softball coaches
Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers softball coaches
Category:Oregon Ducks softball coaches
Category:Stanford Cardinal softball coaches
Category:People from Nacogdoches, Texas