Softball

The University of St. Thomas added Karen Tennis to the Softball program in July 2020. She will serve as the Assistant/Pitching Coach for the Celts. This will be the inaugural season for the Softball team. "To be apart of the process in developing a winning program is an honor. All of the girls we get to meet and see their determination to be great is the best reward I could ever ask for while coaching: said Tennis.

For the Celts inagural season in 2021, Tennis helped the UST Softball program to a 20-11 overall record while going 15-5 in SCAC play. While overseeing the pitching, the Celts were able to have one of the lowest ERAs in the conference which earned a starting pitcher first team all-SCAC honors. 

Tennis comes to UST after serving two seasons as an Assistant/Pitching Coach at fellow Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference institution, Southwestern University. She was a part of a 35-6 season in 2019, which featured their starting pitcher take home Pitcher of the Year honors and a second-place finish in conference. Tennis believes her "experience in coaching in the SCAC will be beneficial in preparing our girls to compete at that higher level and be successful."

The League City native played collegiate softball at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor from 2014-2018. Tennis was a three-year starting pitcher with the lowest ERA on staff. She led the Crusaders to two 3^rd place finishes and one 4^th in the highly competitive ASC. She wrapped up her career tallying two seasons of second team all-conference honors and one with third team honors. Tennis was a four-year starter for Bay Area Christian in League City, Texas. During her decorated high school career, she racked up three first team all-district honors and was named Player of the Year twice. She capped off her career with a State Championship in 2013.