Danielle Zymkowitz is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for the Badgers.
Zymkowitz helped Wisconsin to its second-straight NCAA Tournament with a 29-23 record in 2018. The Badgers also went 11-9 in Big Ten play, their best conference winning percentage since 2014.
Kelsey Jenkins and Brooke Wyderski led the Badgers at the plate during their senior seasons. The dynamic duo ranked first and second on the team in batting average, hits, doubles and RBI. Jenkins also led the Big Ten during the regular season in batting average (.420) and on base percent (.578).
Coach Z also helped develop freshman Taylor Johnson into one of the most feared Badger bats. Johnson led the team with eight homers on the season and ranks top-five on the freshman single-season records list for home runs, RBI, walks, stolen bases, sacrifice flies and stolen base percentage.
In her first year in the dugout, the Badgers completed a 35-17 season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. Wisconsin hitters saw great success in 2017 under Zymkowitz’s guidance, recording the most RBI, walks and sacrifice flies of any season, as well as ranking in the top-10 in hits, doubles, and home runs.
Chloe Miller held the nation’s best batting average through the first half her senior campaign, becoming the program’s second-ever NFCA Player of the Week and NPF Draft pick in 2017. Miller, Wisconsin’s record-holder for career multi-RBI games, career RBI, career home runs and runs, became the first NFCA All-American in Wisconsin softball history.
Wisconsin saw success at the plate from juniors Kelsey Jenkins and Brooke Wyderski in 2017 as well, both earning a spot on the NCAA Tournament All-Region team and the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region team. Jenkins, a three-time All-Big Ten selection, has the program’s best on-base percentage and the most walks in addition to having the longest reached-base streak in UW history. Wyderski, a transfer in 2017, made an immediate impact with the Badgers’ second-best batting average, slugging percentage and RBI.
“Danielle’s character, energy, enthusiasm, ability to motivate others and creative approach to teaching the game makes her a rising star in the coaching profession,” head coach Yvette Healy said. “Coach Z’s playing roots and travel ball connections in the state of California will be critical to our program’s success.
“Beyond her West Coast recruiting ties, Danielle was a standout scholar-athlete in the Big Ten. She was an All-American at the University of Illinois, leading her team to two NCAA Championships. Danielle truly understands what it takes to be a successful student-athlete in our conference.”
