WORCESTER, Mass. – Clark University Director of Athletics and Recreation Trish Cronin announced the hiring of Katelyn Barton as the new head softball coach on Tuesday morning.

"We are excited to welcome Katelyn as our next softball head coach," said Cronin, "Katelyn's track record of achievement at Smith College, coupled with her passion for athletic excellence and inclusive leadership, makes her the ideal candidate to lead our softball program."

Most recently, Barton served as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Smith College in Northampton, MA, where she played a pivotal role in elevating the softball program for the past two years. Barton's dedication to recruiting academically driven student-athletes and fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion contributed to the team's success both on and off the field.

While at Smith, Barton coached a NEWMAC Player of the Year, four NEWMAC All-Conference Athletes, two NFCA All-Region Athletes, and a NFCA Top 10 Team in GPA. Barton also planned prospect camps, campus visits, fundraising efforts, social media content creation, and campus visits.

"I am very excited to be joining Clark University as the next head softball coach," said Barton. "I would like to thank Trish Cronin, Kirsten Clark and the entire Clark community for the opportunity to lead the softball program. I am honored to continue my journey in the highly competitive NEWMAC conference as a head coach. My goal is to continue to grow and develop student-athletes and to guide this program to competitive success."

In addition to her coaching achievements, Barton holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science & Sport Studies from Smith College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wheaton College. As a former standout athlete herself, she earned recognition on the NEWMAC All-Conference Team and served as a team captain during her collegiate career.