WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes University Athletics Director Addy Malatesta has announced the hiring of Jackie Klahold as the new head coach of softball. Klahold becomes the 10^th head coach in the program's 43-year history.
 
"I want to thank Addy Malatesta and the entire search committee for the great opportunity to lead the Colonels softball program," said Klahold. "The Wilkes softball program has such a strong foundation for student-athletes to be successful on and off the playing field. I am eager to hit the ground running and continue to build upon what has been set in place."
 
Klahold spent the past five seasons as head coach of Penn College in Williamsport, Pa. where she also held the titles of Senior Women's Administrator, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Advisor, Title IX Investigator, and Interim Fitness Center Coordinator.
 
Penn College reached its first-ever NEAC Championship game in 2019 and the team finished with a 24-15 record. She was named the Penn College Athletic Department Coach of the Year for her efforts.
The Wildcats reached the NEAC Final Four for the first time in program history in 2018. In 2017, Klahold led her team to a 21-13 mark and the program's first-ever trip to the NEAC playoffs. Four players earned All-NEAC honors and three were named All-American Scholar-Athletes. Klahold coached the Wildcats to a 17-21 mark in her first year, which included five players earning All-NEAC honors and a trip to the USCAA postseason in 2016.
 
Over her four seasons at the helm, Klahold coached 17 All-NEAC players and 14 NEAC Scholar-Athletes. She was named the NEAC North Division Coach of the Year in 2017.
 
"We are excited to match our talented student-athletes with Coach Klahold's background and dedication to creating a great experience for her team," said Wilkes University Interim President Dr. Paul Adams.
 
Klahold came to Williamsport after three years as head coach at SUNY Canton where she averaged double-digit wins from 2013-2015. She coached three United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) First Team All-Americans, four Second Team All-Americans and four USCAA All-Academic players.
 
Prior to coaching SUNY Canton, Klahold was an assistant coach at Susquehanna University in 2012, helping the Crusaders win the Landmark Conference regular season and being a member of a staff that was named Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. She spent the 2011 season as an assistant coach at Division I Iona College, helping the Gaels to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship and a berth in the NCAA Regionals. Klahold also served as Director of Softball Operations at Frozen Ropes in Plains Pa. in 2009 and 2010 and was the head coach at Crestwood High School during the 2008 through 2010 seasons as Klahold led the team to the PIAA District 2 Class 3A Quarterfinals all three years.
 
"There were so many aspects of this position that caught my attention, but the first three were tradition, challenge, and the facilities," noted Klahold. "The Wilkes softball program has a tradition of producing strong competitive teams, especially over the past few years. You combine that with top notch facilities and the challenge of continuing to build upon that success and tradition, it made this position very appealing to me. I am very excited to get started with this great group of women who are very proud of the program that they helped build and want to see continue to grow," she added.
 
Klahold earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Florida Atlantic University in 2000, where she was a four-year starter for the Division I softball team. She helped the Owls win four Atlantic Sun Conference titles and to two NCAA Tournament Regional appearances. She was twice named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Team and the all-tournament team. Klahold ranks in the top six in 10 major statistical categories at Florida Atlantic.
 
Klahold earned a second Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education (2009) and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership (2015) from Wilkes University. She has been a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) since 2008, the Women Leaders in College Sports since 2017 and the Alliance of Women's Coaches since 2019.
 
Klahold's husband Keith serves as Wilkes' Strength and Conditioning Coach/Fitness Coordinator.