Shannon Doepking - Softball Coach - Syracuse University Athletics

Shannon Doepking

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
sndoepki@syr.edu

Shannon Doepking was named the fourth head softball coach in program history on September 14, 2018, following a four-year stint at Dartmouth where she led the Big Green to Ivy League Championships in 2015 and 2018.

In her six seasons as head coach of the Orange, Doepking has recorded a 129-136-1 record that began with a 21-23 inaugural season which saw significant improvement on the offensive side of the ball. Doepking and the coaching staff helped the Orange nearly double its home run total from 2018, producing 27 in 2019. The Orange's 73 doubles and 1.38 per game both rank fourth all-time for single season records at Syracuse while the team's 14 triples are the second-best in program history. The Orange's 0.26 triples per game also ranked 32nd nationally. Syracuse also recorded its first series victory against Notre Dame in program history.

The Orange went 10-10 in Doepking's second campaign, which was shortened by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The 2020 season was highlighted by a 3-2 walk off victory over #20 Texas Tech, the first win for Syracuse over a ranked team since March 26, 2016.

Following a 347-day hiatus, the Orange made their much-anticipated return to the diamond in 2021. Doepking, in her third season as head coach, doubled her team’s win total from the prior season, with ‘Cuse playing to a 20-24 record. The regular season campaign was concluded by a series against #11 Clemson where the Orange recorded their lone ranked win of the season in style with a 7-6 walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Syracuse continued to build in 2022, earning its first winning season (26-21) and ACC Tournament victory under Doepking. The campaign was highlighted by one ranked win over #11 Duke, the program’s first victory over the Blue Devils since their first matchup in 2019, as well as a 2-0 victory over Louisville in the conference tournament quarterfinals.

During the 2023 spring, Doepking reached the 100-win milestone in her tenure in Upstate New York. The leader of the Orange reached the mark after ‘Cuse completed a three-game sweep of Virginia with a 12-6 victory on Sunday, April 29. Two weeks later, Syracuse went on to clinch its second-consecutive ACC Tournament quarterfinals victory, topping Virginia, 8-2.

Most recently, Doepking led her squad to its most victories in her six seasons with the Orange (28), including four wins over ranked opponents. Syracuse earned its first series victory over a top-15 opponent in program history with two wins over #15 Virginia Tech. The Orange rode that momentum into its following series against #14 Florida State, taking two out of three games over the Seminoles. Doepking also saw her team’s offensive number jump, with the Orange posting the best batting average (.282), and most hits (375), runs (245), home runs (35), and RBIs (221) since Doepking took over the program.

The 2018 Ivy League Coach of the Year, Doepking oversaw the development of two Ivy League Players of the Year (2015,2016), the 2018 Rookie of the Year, 2015 Ivy League Pitcher of the Year, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honorees, 21 All-Ivy League selections and four Ivy League All-Academic selections. Doepking placed a strong emphasis on the Big Green's strength of schedule as Dartmouth led the Ivy League in RPI for three of her four season.

Prior to her tenure at Dartmouth, Doepking spent a season at the helm of the Amherst program. She led a significant turnaround in the program with a 21-11 record. Doepking previously served as an assistant coach at Stony Brook where she helped develop a squad that won the American East for the first time in five years. Doepking also served as an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson and Brentwood Academy.

A decorated player herself, Doepking was an All-SEC catcher out of Tennessee. During her playing career she helped the Lady Vols to an impressive 246-46 (.842) record and three consecutive Women’s College World Series appearances including a runner-up finish in 2007.

She continued her playing career after graduation as the 15^th overall pick in the 2008 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) draft by the Akron Racers. Doekping had stints with the USSSA Pride and the Tennessee Diamonds before signing with the Chicago Bandits. While with the Bandits, Doepking helped Chicago capture its second NPF title in 2011 where she was named to the All-NPF Team.

Doepking holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Tennessee in addition to a masters of sports administration from Fairleigh Dickinson.