Kentucky softball Head Coach Rachel Lawson earned her 600th win for Kentucky on Feb. 8, 2025. The win came in the Wildcats’ 12-0 victory over Morgan State.
The milestone comes as a result of Lawson’s unyielding commitment to winning.
The 2025 season is Lawson’s 18th as the Kentucky head coach and, during her tenure, she has completely revolutionized the softball program on and off the field.
The Kentucky softball team was started 11 years before Lawson was hired in 2008. In those 11 seasons, Kentucky had a winning percentage of .373 with just one winning season and zero tournament appearances.
Since Lawson was hired, Kentucky has recorded sixteen consecutive winning seasons, with a winning percentage of .625.
The program has also seen plenty of postseason success under Lawson. The Wildcats have reached the NCAA tournament in 15 straight seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Lawson has led Kentucky to eight Super Regional appearances and one appearance in the Women’s College World Series.
Lawson’s success began in 2009, her second season as head coach. She led Kentucky to 34 wins, the first team in program history to win 30+ games. The Wildcats have had 30+ wins every year since, building a streak of 15 seasons, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
The Wildcats also made their first tournament appearance in program history in 2009, beginning the 15-season streak of appearances. Kentucky is one of just 15 teams in the country with a tournament appearance streak of that length.
In 2011, Lawson led Kentucky to its first-ever 40+ win season and its first Super Regional appearance. This great season helped Lawson earn her first of multiple contract extensions.
Next, 2014 was the most successful Kentucky team in Lawson’s tenure. The Wildcats appeared in their first SEC championship before reaching the program’s first and only Women’s College World Series. A program-best 50 wins fueled this postseason push.
The Wildcats finished 2014 ranked No. 6 in the nation, marking the program’s highest finish ever.
The Wildcats set a program record for regular season wins in 2016, winning 43 games. This strong performance resulted in Lawson winning SEC Coach of the Year, the first-ever Kentucky softball coach to win the award.
Lawson has done a lot of winning thanks in large part to her player development. She has coached six NFCA All-American Players and led 74 players to All-SEC honors. She has also produced three members of the USA National Team.
The Wildcats’ pitching has thrived under the command of Lawson. In her 18 seasons, the Wildcats have had 17 no-hitters, including two perfect games.
Lawson’s impact on the Kentucky softball program extends far beyond on-field play. Her revitalization of the program in her first five seasons earned a new stadium for the team.
Kentucky opened its state-of-the-art $9.5-million-dollar John Cropp Stadium in April 2013. The stadium includes a locker room, indoor hitting/fielding facility and coach offices. It also provides a solid fan experience with over 1,500 seats, a press box and two luxury suites.
Lawson’s continuous success allowed her to earn the trust of the university and its fans, both of which have provided Lawson with support in return. The combination of success and support have allowed Kentucky to evolve into one of the top programs in the nation.
Lawson will look to continue adding her already storied career in the 2025 season. Her Wildcats are off to a 4-1 start with two shutouts and three victories by mercy rule, averaging nearly 10 runs per game.