KNOXVILLE — A longtime assistant softball coach for the University of Tennessee has resigned.
Marty McDaniel, who has served as the Lady Vols’ pitching coach for the past 16 seasons under co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly, is leaving the program.
McDaniel came to Knoxville to work with Tennessee’s pitchers in 2005. During his tenure on Rocky Top, he coached left-hander Monica Abbott, one of the top softball players in UT and NCAA history. He also mentored Ivy and Ellen Renfroe.
Abbott, who hails from Salinas, California, currently plays for Team USA and during her career on Rocky Top, she became the only NCAA pitcher to record at least 500 strikeouts in each of her four collegiate campaigns.
She was named USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year in 2007. That year, the Lady Vols’ pitching staff led the nation in ERA and strikeouts.
In 2005, UT’s pitching staff set a national record when it posted 51 shutouts.
After Abbott graduated, McDaniel mentored Ivy and Ellen Renfroe from 2010-13.
Ivy won 97 wins in her career and was a four-time All-Southeastern Conference standout. She was also selected to the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team in 2010.
Ellen was a four-time All-SEC performer and a three-time All-America standout.
McDaniel had a solid stint in Knoxville, but recently the pitching staff has struggled while being plagued by injuries. Caylan Arnold, a Maryville High School product, also transferred after her junior season with the team and is now at Florida State.
In her three years at Tennessee, she had 473 strikeouts and a 2.15 ERA.
The Lady Vols were 14-9 in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic prematurely ended the season. UT had a staff ERA of 3.21.