Helen Peña - Softball Coach - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Helen Peña

Title:
Assistant Coach (Pitching)
Email:
Helen.Pena@mtsu.edu
Phone:
904-8010

Helen Peña is set to enter her second season as a member of the Middle Tennessee softball staff in 2023-24. Coming of a historic year in 2023 with a program record 42 wins and second ever Conference USA Championship.

Peña helped lead MTSU pitcher Gretchen Mead to a NFCA All-Region Second Team selection and All-Conference USA Second Team selection in 2023, along with pitcher Kamryn Carcich earning Conference USA All-Tournament team.

The Blue Raiders coaching staff was named the 2023 NFCA Mideast Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.

Peña joins the Blue Raiders after spending the past five seasons at the University of Memphis, working with the Tigers' pitching staff and hitters.

"I'd like to thank Coach Breeden for the opportunity to join his experienced coaching staff alongside Coach Foti and become a member of the Blue Raider softball family," Peña said. "The commitment to student-athlete success and ensuring that they leave here with the best experience possible is something that I was looking for and found here at MTSU. I am excited to join Team 31 and look forward to a great year with this group of young women, competing for a conference championship."

At Memphis, Peña helped coach All-American Athletic Conference Second Team selection Molly Smith, who under Peña tutelage, posted career-bests in innings pitched (222.1), strikeouts (220), ERA (1.98), and wins (25) during her stellar senior season. In the classroom, Peña's focus on academics also helped drive Memphis first baseman Threatt to a 2019 CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District selection, as well as a program record 14 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete selections.

Prior to her time in Memphis, Peña spent a pair of seasons at Menlo College in Atherton, California. In 2017, Peña helped coach Menlo to a single-season program record 31 wins. Her pitching staff posted a combined ERA of 2.59, marking the program's lowest in over 14 years.

Before joining the Oaks, Peña served as an assistant coach for two seasons at Cal State Bakersfield.

With the 'Runners, Peña coached Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Pitcher of the Year Kelsie Monroe. Her oversight of the CSUB pitching staff helped lead the 'Runners to a 2015 WAC Tournament Championship berth during her second year with the program.

Peña began her collegiate coaching career at her alma mater, Cal Poly, where she worked with the Mustangs' pitchers and outfielders and served as a student assistant during the 2011 season before moving into a volunteer coaching role for the 2012 season.

Following her playing career, Peña began her coaching career as an assistant coach with the 16U Aftershocks travel ball team in Paso Robles, California.

Peña was a four-year letterwinner and graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. She helped lead the Mustangs to a pair of Big West championships, including the program's first-ever title in 2007, in which she posted a 1.75 ERA, ranking third among all Big West pitchers, and earned Big West All-Conference honors in 2008 and 2009. In the Cal Poly record books, Peña ranks tied for sixth all-time in career saves, ninth in career strikeouts, 11^th in career shutouts, and 14^th in career victories.