Jen Steele is entering her ninth season as head coach of the University of Delaware softball program in Newark, Delaware, in 2027, after overseeing a sustained rise for the Blue Hens that has included conference titles, record-setting seasons, and multiple postseason honors for her players.
Under Steele, Delaware moved into Conference USA and posted a 31-24 overall record and a 17-10 league mark in its first season in the conference while reaching the 30-win mark for a third straight year, the first such run in program history. That season included an 11-game winning streak in April, a 12-game home winning streak from March 21 to May 1, and a nine-game conference winning streak from April 2 to April 18. The Blue Hens set program single-season records for walks, hit batters, home wins, and runs scored in a conference tournament game, and they also finished among the best seasons in school history in runs, home runs, on-base percentage, total bases, extra-base hits, stolen bases, slugging percentage, hits, run-rule victories, and pitching strikeouts. Delaware also recorded back-to-back 40-home run seasons for the first time. Notable results included wins over Maryland and Ohio State on Feb. 20 and a 12-3 conference victory over Liberty on March 28 that marked one of the most lopsided league losses the Flames had taken in years. Delaware's postseason recognition was extensive, with multiple first-team and second-team All-Conference USA selections, three all-freshman honorees, and two all-region picks. Sydney Shaffer became the first player in program history to earn first-team all-region honors at catcher, and Josie Crossman added all-region recognition as one of the program's few pitchers to receive that distinction. The team was also heavily represented in academic honors, including CSC Academic All-District recognition and NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete selections.
