Softball | July 24

DeKALB, Ill.—Northern Illinois University head softball coach Kathryn Gleason has announced the addition of Brie Pasquale and Jordan Taylor to her coaching staff.
 
Pasquale joins the Huskies after serving as an assistant coach at Marian University (Division III, Wisconsin) while Taylor comes to the Huskies after a successful international career.
 
Pasquale spent the previous two seasons at Marian University, where she designed and lead comprehensive strength and conditioning programming, oversaw camps, managed facilities, and helped lead the Sabres to a 45-39 record and back-to-back appearances in the conference tournament. Pasquale also served as the head women's tennis coach for the Sabres.
 
Pasquale played her collegiate career at Loyola Chicago and was a standout infielder. During her time with the Ramblers, Pasquale hit 19 home runs and 71 runs driven in over 187 games.  Pasquale made an immediate impact in the Rambler lineup earning Second Team All-Horizon League and Horizon League All-Newcomer accolades.  She would set a single-season freshman record with nine home runs in that first campaign and finished third on the squad with 26 runs driven in over 47 games. 
 
Pasquale gained coaching experience at St. Francis High School (Wheaton, Ill.) and with the Dennison Silver Hawks (Elburn, Ill.).
 
Pasquale graduated in 2016 from Loyola with a degree in Elementary Education and is a native of Naperville.
 
Pasquale on joining Huskies Softball: "I am incredibly grateful to Coach Gleason and Northern Illinois University Athletics for the opportunity to join the Huskie family. It is truly an honor to become part of a program with such a strong tradition and commitment to excellence. I look forward to working with our student athletes and contributing to their success both on and off the field."
 
Gleason on Pasquale: "I am excited to welcome Brie to the NIU Softball Family.  Her focus on training student-athletes at a high level, with an emphasis on the fundamentals, will raise our standard of play from day one.  Brie is full of energy and positivity, and I am thrilled to bring her back closer to home to elevate our program on and off the field."
 
Taylor joins the Huskies after stints at Boston University (2013-15) and Loyola Chicago (2015-16). This will be Taylor's second school with Gleason, having assisted her in winning the 2014 Patriot League at Boston University.
 
While at Loyola, Taylor helped the staff trim a full run off its earned run average in 2016 (4.70 to 3.70) and her work with Kiley Jones helped the freshman become a 10-game winner in her rookie season. Off the field, 11 Rambler softball student-athletes were named to the MVC Honor Roll.

Taylor had a successful international career, playing internationally from 2010-2022, won a World Cup championships, a silver medal at the World Championships, and the 2012 Pan American gold medal as a member of the U.S. National Team. After playing competitively in Japan, Taylor joined the USSSA Pride and helping the team capture back-to-back National Pro Fastpitch titles in 2013 and 2014.
 
Playing collegiately for Michigan, Taylor was a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American, two-time top 10 NCAA Player of the Year finalist and the 2010 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. During her four years in Ann Arbor, she helped lead the Wolverines to four Big Ten titles, three NCAA super regional appearances and a trip to the 2009 Women's College World Series. Taylor posted a 1.27 career ERA and graduated with eight school records, including wins, strikeouts, saves and no-hitters.
 
Taylor is a native of Santa Clarita, California.
 
Taylor on joining NIU Softball: "I'm excited to get back into college softball and work with the pitchers at NIU. I'm thrilled to be working with Coach Gleason again and joining the NIU Softball family.
 
Coach Gleason on Taylor: "I am excited to welcome Jordan to our NIU Softball Family, as our Pitching Coach.  We worked together at BU, and won a Patriot League championship in 2014, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.  Her drive, work ethic and enthusiasm for the game and teaching the game are unmatched.  She will make an immediate impact with our pitchers, our team and program with her experience as a collegiate All American, as a Professional athlete, a collegiate coach, and with her background from her international career."
 
During the 2025 season, NIU Softball finished with a record of 21-30 overall and 14-13 in MAC play. NIU made the MAC tournament for the first time since 2019 and saw four athletes named to the All-MAC teams.  Thirteen Huskies earned Academic All-MAC honors, tying the school record, while five earned CSC Academic All-District honors.
 
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