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Kelly Latendresse

Kelly Latendresse has been the MNU head softball coach since the 2012 season. Latendresse spent the previous five seasons as the head coach at Johnson County Community College where she enjoyed tremendous success.

In 3 seasons at MNU, Coach Latendresse has guided the Pioneers to 2 appearances in the national tournament.
 
In her time at JCCC, Latendresse (pronounced la-TAHN-dress) has compiled an 196-76 (.721) record, won four Region VI titles and led four teams to the NJCAA Division II Tournament. Twice she has been selected the NFCA South Region Coach of the Year for NJCAA Division II. She has coached 11 NJCAA All-Americans, 8 NJCAA All-Tournament selections, 31 All-Region VI performers, and 33 All-Jayhawk Conference performers. Latendresse’s teams have also made the grade in the classroom. In 2007 a total of four individuals earned NJCAA Academic All-American. In all, she has produced eight Academic All-Americans.
 
In 2007, Latendresse’s first season as head coach at JCCC, she guided JCCC to its greatest campaign in the program’s history, finishing second at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. JCCC finished 46-14 overall, and captured East Jayhawk and Region VI/District titles along its way to the team’s first national title game in the program’s history. In addition, Latendresse earned NJCAA District Coach of the Year honors.

Latendresse began her collegiate coaching career in 2005 after a standout playing career at Johnson County Community College and Emporia State University. She had two amazing seasons at Johnson County, leading JCCC to East Jayhawk Conference and Region VI championships each season, and two trips to the NJCAA National Softball Tournament. As a two-year starter at JCCC, Latendresse helped JCCC compile a 102-19 record (.843). Her sophomore season, JCCC won 55 games, the second highest win total in team history.

In her freshman campaign, Latendresse hit an impressive .367 with 40 hits, including nine doubles, a triple and five home runs. Her five homers tied for the team lead. She was selected as a second-team East Jayhawk All-Conference and second-team NJCAA All-Region VI/District C performer.

Latendresse followed her solid freshman season with a phenomenal sophomore campaign, finishing as one of the leading hitters in the NJCAA. She hit .516 (98-for-190), with 20 doubles, six triples and 12 home runs. She drove in 91 runners, shattering the previous record of 73. Her .516 average was the fourth-best in the NJCAA, and her RBI and home run totals ranked second and tied for 13th nationally. She capped the season by earning first-team NJCAA All-American. In addition, she was named NFCA All-American, team MVP, JCCC Female Athlete of the Year, East Jayhawk Conference MVP, Region VI/District C MVP and NFCA All-West Region first-team. She set the career record for RBI with 123, and tied the career home run mark with 17. She also ranked fourth in doubles (29), ninth in runs (94) and fifth in average (.456).

Latendresse continued her career at Emporia State University, where she was twice selected as an honorable mention All-MIAA performer. She also was named as an NFCA scholar athlete. As a junior, Latendresse started all 57 games, and hit .304 (51-for-168) with 14 doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI. Her senior season, she played all 61 contests while hitting .308 (60-for-195) with 17 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 45 RBI. She ranked among the MIAA leaders in homers, triples, doubles, RBI, slugging percentage and total bases.

Kelly lives in Gardner with her husband Matt and their son Kellan.