CSUN Names Charlotte Morgan Head Softball Coach

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.--CSUN Director of Athletics Mike Izzi announced today that Charlotte Morgan has been named the seventh head coach in Matadors' softball history.

"After an extensive search process, I am truly excited to welcome Charlotte Morgan to the Matador family," Izzi said. "She has an exceptional softball background. Her passion for the game and most importantly the development of our student-athletes is at the forefront of her vision for the program. I am excited to see the growth the softball team will show under Charlotte's leadership."

"I am thankful for the opportunity that Mike (Izzi) and Shareef (Amer, CSUN Associate Athletic Director and chair of the search committee) have given me," said Morgan. "I have always aspired to be a Division I head coach and I am looking forward to working with a program that has a rich history. I am ecstatic about being closer to home and family. We are in a great conference and a great location. I am looking forward to getting started."

05.22.2010 Softball vs. Lipscomb #34 Charlotte Morgan Photo by Alex Gilbert

05.22.2010 Softball vs. Lipscomb #34 Charlotte Morgan Photo by Alex Gilbert

As a player, the Moreno Valley, Calif. native was a three-time NFCA All-American for the University of Alabama. A two-time SEC Player of the Year and a three-time first-team All-Conference selection. She was a two-time USA Softball player of the year top 10 finalist and won the Senior Lowe's CLASS Award in 2010, which is awarded to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in 10 NCAA Division I sports. Morgan also earned CoSIDA Academic All-American honors on three occasions including first-team honors as a senior. To date, Morgan is Alabama's only SEC Player of the Year selection.

In the circle at Alabama, Morgan pitched in 86 games with 65 starts and compiled a 51-12 overall record with a 2.12 ERA. At the plate, she posted a .387 batting average, 58 home runs, and a then SEC career-record 264 RBI. She led the Crimson Tide to appearances in the 2008 and 2009 Women's College World Series as the team went 219-40 over her playing career.

In Feb. 2010, Morgan was the overall first pick of the first National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft, going to the USSSA Pride. Morgan played for the Pride from 2010-12 before moving to the Akron Racers for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. She was all-NPF in 2010 and again in 2013.

Morgan arrives in Northridge from UT Arlington where she was the pitching coach for two years. During the 2018 season she helped the Mavericks to a 30-win season and helped guide Randi Phillips to All Sun-Belt Conference honors as a freshman. UTA's three-pitcher rotation helped the program to a top-four finish in the Sun Belt and an NISC Regional title. UT Arlington picked up wins against nationally-ranked teams Texas State, Louisiana, and Oklahoma State.

Morgan moved to UTA from Oklahoma State where she was the Cowgirls' pitching coach for two seasons. Under Morgan's leadership, the Oklahoma State pitchers shined down the stretch to help lead the Cowgirls back to the postseason for the first time since 2011. Senior Kacy Freeze finished with 19 wins, the fourth most in the Big 12, and four saves, the second-most in the conference. Morgan UT Arlington

Morgan took her first head coaching position while still on staff at Oklahoma State when she took the helm of the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch League in the Summer of 2017. She continued with the team in 2018 when the squad was rebranded the Cleveland Comets.

Before joining the Oklahoma State staff, Morgan was the pitching coach at Georgia Tech for two years. Under Morgan's guidance, Kylie Kleinschmidt posted a 2.77 ERA in 2014 while leading the team in complete games (20) and shutouts (three). In 2015, Morgan helped develop freshman Christina Biggerstaff into one of the ACC's most lethal young pitchers. Her 10.1 strikeouts per seven innings were seventh nationally. Also, in 2015, Kleinschmidt and Biggerstaff teamed up to toss combined no-hitters on consecutive days.

Morgan began her coaching career at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla. She worked for ESPN from 2011 through 2013 as a color commentator for SEC games and as an in-studio analyst.

What They Are Saying About Charlotte Morgan

Pat Murphy, Head Coach, University of Alabama
"First, let me say congratulations to Charlotte and the Northridge program. She was one of the best players we have ever had here at Alabama. She was so competitive and literally would put fear into our opponents when she came to bat. She was so much fun to watch. Our fans would get on the edge of their seats every time she came to the plate. Charlotte's hire will bode well for the Matadors. Being a two-way player, she understands both the offensive and defensive sides of the game and she knows softball inside and out."

Kenny Gajewski, Head Coach, Oklahoma State
"It is an exciting day for CSUN and the Matador program. Charlotte is one of the best players in the history of the game. She is a hard worker with West Coast ties and comes from a family that is heavily involved in travel softball. Charlotte was a good fit for our staff when we came in to rebuild our program. She did a good job of nurturing our kids as we got things turned around in the right direction."

PeeJay Brun, Head Coach, UT Arlington
"Charlotte is well prepared to become the head coach at CSUN. As a pitcher who didn't throw hard, she was able to troubleshoot our pitchers' mechanics and teach the pitchers how to be effective. But as a two-way player, she was also able to teach our batters what to look for at the plate. Playing and coaching across many different levels, she is a well-rounded coach."

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CSUN Names Charlotte Morgan Head Softball Coach

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