Kate Malveaux – Syndication Server

Former Auburn INF/P Annabelle Widra finds new home

Annabelle Widra played a variety of positions during her two seasons on the Plains.

One of Auburn’s most valuable roster pieces from last season’s roster has found a new home.

[autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag], who played a variety of infield positions as well as pitched during her two-year stint at Auburn, announced this week that she is transferring to Florida State to play her final eligible season of college softball.

Widra departs Auburn after spending two seasons as a versatile roster piece. Last season, the Hoover native split her 38 starts between third base (21), second base (8), shortstop (1), and designated player (1). In the circle, she made 49 appearances with five starts.

As a pitcher, Widra built a 5-3 record with a 2.86 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings in 2024, which was a step back from her 2023 efforts where she struck out 75 batters over 79 2/3 innings. As a hitter, Widra hit .259 with 22 hits, two home runs, and 11 RBI.

Widra was the first player from the 2024 roster to declare her intention to enter the transfer portal. Widra was later joined by [autotag]Riley McNemar[/autotag] and [autotag]Mariah Penta[/autotag].

Widra’s departure is a tough blow for Auburn as both [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] have both graduated, leaving behind just [autotag]Emmah Rolfe[/autotag] and [autotag]Malayna Tamborra[/autotag] from last season’s staff. The duo combined to strikeout eight batters over 28 2/3 innings in 17 appearances.

New head coaches [autotag]Chris Malveaux[/autotag] and [autotag]Kate Malveaux[/autotag] are working to rebuild Auburn’s pitching staff by welcoming in former Oklahoma pitcher [autotag]SJ Geurin[/autotag] from the transfer portal.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Former Oklahoma pitcher SJ Geurin commits to Auburn

The first signing of the Malveaux era is a two-time national champion.

[autotag]Chris Malveaux[/autotag] and [autotag]Kate Malveaux[/autotag] were officially introduced as Auburn softball’s co-head coaches this week and quickly got to work by enhancing the program through the transfer portal.

The Tigers need to rebuild its pitching staff after the departures of [autotag]Maddie Penta[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelby Lowe[/autotag] to graduation and [autotag]Annabelle Widra[/autotag] to the transfer portal. They may have found the first piece in [autotag]SJ Geurin[/autotag].

Geurin, a left-handed pitcher from Leander, Texas, announced Saturday that she is transferring from Oklahoma to Auburn before the 2025 season. The two-time national champion comes to Auburn after recording nine strikeouts in nine appearances for the Sooners last season, earning two wins in the circle.

As the No. 7 pitcher from the 2022 recruiting cycle, Geurin received plenty of attention from elite programs such as Oregon and UCLA before signing with Oklahoma. Geurin never found adequate circle time in Norman after playing behind Jordy Bahl in 2023, as well as Kelly Maxwell and Kierston Deal in 2024. Now at Auburn, Geurin has the chance to become the ace of a power program.

Geurin is the first addition to Auburn’s 2025 from the transfer portal. Three Tigers entered the portal following the season: Annabelle Widra, [autotag]Riley McNemar[/autotag], and [autotag]Mariah Penta[/autotag]. Neither player has found a new home as of the timing of this post.

War Eagle🦅🧡 pic.twitter.com/pmVQB8OoSe

— SJ Geurin (@sjg__85) June 22, 2024

Lady Vol assistants hired as co-head coaches at Auburn

Auburn hires two Tennessee assistants to serve as co-head coaches for the Tigers.

Auburn announced the hiring of Chris Malveaux and Kate Malveaux as the Tigers’ co-head coaches for softball.

Both served as assistant coaches for Karen Weekly at Tennessee.

“We are incredibly humbled and excited to be a part of the Auburn family,” Chris Malveaux said. “Kate and I are overly thankful to Karen Weekly and the entire Tennessee family for their sacrifices, opportunities and guidance these past three years.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead this storied Auburn program into its next stage and are forever grateful for the trust of John Cohen and his incredible staff for believing in us. We can’t wait to get to work!”

Auburn hires former Tennessee assistants to lead softball program

Chris and Kate Malveaux take over for Mickey Dean, who announced his retirement in March.

After a long coaching search, Auburn has found its next leader(s).

Auburn athletics director [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag] announced Wednesday that former Tennessee assistants [autotag]Chris Malveaux[/autotag] and [autotag]Kate Malveaux[/autotag] are making a move to Auburn to serve as assistant head coaches, taking over for the outgoing [autotag]Mickey Dean[/autotag], who announced his retirement in March.

“Chris and I are both honored and humbled to lead this new era of Auburn Softball. Thank you to John Cohen and all of Auburn Athletics for their faith in us to take on this role and support the program in such an impactful way,” Kate Malveaux said in a press release. “Also, thank you to Karen Weekly, the Lady Vol Softball staff, and student-athletes for the opportunity and support of not only us, but also our family. Auburn has proved that it can compete on the national stage, and we are excited to build, develop, and grow this program into a national powerhouse.”

Chris Malveaux served as the Lady Vols’ hitting coach for three seasons. Since 2022, Tennessee’s production at the plate has increased from a .280 team average in 2022 to a .317 team average in 2024. In 2023, Tennessee led the SEC in on-base percentage (.419), runs scored (419), RBI (377), and doubles (84). The top player under Malveaux’s leadership, Kiki Milloy, set a school record with 25 home runs in 2023, which led to All-America honors from the NFCA.

Tennessee finished top-five in eight hitting categories this season, including home runs. The Lady Vols collectively hit 37 home runs this season, which trailed only Georgia (44) for the SEC lead. Tennessee batters were also patient at the plate by forcing 87 walks and striking out just 81 times.

Kate Malveaux worked with base runners during her four seasons in Knoxville, where speed on the basepaths was a strong emphasis. They swiped 38 bases in 2024, third-highest among SEC programs. Tennessee finished top-four in stolen bases since 2021, including an SEC-high 95 stolen bases in 2021.

Together, Tennessee has won two-straight SEC championships.

A spouse duo serving as head coaches in SEC softball is nothing new. Tennessee was led by Ralph and Karen Weekly for 20 years before Ralph’s retirement in 2021. Neither of the Malveaux’s coached at Tennessee under Ralph’s leadership, but his wife Karen remains the Lady Vols’ head coach and has shared her experience of the situation.

Kate Malveaux promoted to Lady Vols’ assistant coach

Kate Malveaux promoted to Lady Vols’ assistant coach.

Tennessee softball promoted Kate Malveaux to assistant coach on Friday.

She served as a volunteer assistant at Tennessee from 2022-23.

“Kate Malveaux has done an amazing job as our volunteer coach the past two years, so it was an easy decision to elevate her when the new full-time position was added,” Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said in a press release. “She is one of the most passionate and energetic people I’ve ever been around. Her player development skills were clearly evident this year with our catchers, and the work she did with Giulia Koutsoyanopulos was nothing short of phenomenal. Kate makes our program better and our student-athletes are fortunate to have her as a role model.”

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]