WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State and head softball coach Kristi Bredbenner have agreed to a new contract that will run through the 2027 season, director of athletics Kevin Saal announced Thursday afternoon. 

"Coach Bredbenner is a tremendous leader for our softball program and the young women who develop within it," Saal said. "Throughout the last 11 years, under Kristi's stewardship, our softball student-athletes, coaches and administrators have responsibly and methodically built Wichita State Softball into a championship-level program."

Entering her 12th season at the helm, Bredbenner has guided the Shockers to two of the program's three conference championships and four of the six NCAA Regional appearances. The Shockers are coming off back-to-back NCAA appearances - a first in program history. The 2022 Shockers ranked second nationally in home runs, scoring, slugging percentage and on base percentage, while re-writing the single season record books for a second straight season.

"I am honored and thankful to be the head softball coach at Wichita State University," Bredbenner said. "The commitment that President Rick Muma, Athletic Director Kevin Saal and all of Shocker Nation has made to the softball program, coaching staff and most importantly to the student-athletes who will continue to significantly impact our level of success in a positive way."

Through her first 11 seasons at Wichita State, Bredbenner has a career record of 320-252-1, and became the school's all-time winningest coach in 2021. Under Bredbenner, 41 student-athletes have earned all-conference accolades and 16 NFCA All-Region honors.

"In recent months, collectively we've invested significant resources in our coaching staff, lights, batting cages, dugout expansion and playing surface work," Saal said. "In the coming weeks we will engage in a comprehensive athletics facility master planning process, as we analyze the best options for an inclusive team operations center (locker room, team room, sports medicine room, meeting space, offices, etc.) maintaining seamless and efficient connectivity to the Wilkins Softball Complex. Please join us in support of Coach Bredbenner, our student-athletes and this new home for Wichita State softball."

As a collegiate head coach, Bredbenner has won nearly 650 games in 18 seasons. Prior to Wichita State, she spent six seasons at Emporia State and one at Truman State where she received her first head coaching opportunity.

"I am thankful every day that I get to work alongside a fantastic coaching staff, support staff and group of student-athletes," Bredbenner said. "My family is proud to call Wichita our home and we look forward to the future of Shocker softball for many years to come."