Kristle Wolcott was named the fifth head coach in Maverick softball history on May 16, 2025. Wolcott, a native of Clear Lake, Iowa, served as Minnesota State's Associate Head Coach since 2014 and has been with the Mavericks as a full-time staff member for 14 seasons.
Wolcott started her second stint at Minnesota State with a bang as the Mavericks went 54-16 and tied for fifth at the national championships. The Mavericks established several team records in 2011, including games played (70), wins (54), at bats (1,874), runs (370), batting average (.320), hits (600), doubles (103), runs batted in (336), stolen bases (108), total bases (900) and tied the school record for home runs (57). Individually, several Mavericks earned accolades as well as pitcher Kendra Huettl was named the Elite 88 Award Winner at the national championships for boasting the best grade point average at the event (3.99 in nursing) and designated player/catcher Lindsay Erickson was tabbed an All-American by both Daktronics and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Wolcott saw the Mavericks play host to the NCAA Sub Region Tournament as MSU put together a combined record of 83-25. Lindsay Erickson received NFCA and Daktronics All-American honors during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, while Samantha Holien was received NFCA All-American honors in 2014. The 2015 season Coley Ries and Tatum Klein claim All-Central Region honors from the Daktronics and the NFCA, respectively.
The 2016 season saw the Mavericks claim their fourth NSIC Title as they advanced to the NCAA Tournament. MSU finished the 2016 season with a 45-17 record, while Coley Ries went on to claim All-American honors from the NFCA and D2CCA.
The 2017 season proved to be special season for the Mavericks as they went on to win their first ever NCAA Championship. Minnesota State established several new season records including, 71 games played, 64 wins, 28 consecutive wins, 1,925 at bats, 438 runs scored, .342 batting average, 658 hits, 108 doubles, 376 runs batted in and 949 total bases. Along with their NCAA National Championship, the Mavericks also went on to claim NSIC regular season and tournament championships.
Along with team accolades several Mavericks received NSIC honors for their efforts in 2017. Coley Ries was named the NSIC Pitcher of the Year and to the All-NSIC First Team for the third time in her career. Ries was joined by fellow All-NSIC First Team honorees in Jessica Meidl, McKenzie Paap and Amber Kral. Libby Bemis, Carly Esselman and Ashley Thell each received All-NSIC Second Team honors, while Paap and Cori Kennedy were named to the NSIC Gold Glove Team. The trio of Ries, Kral and Meidl each received All-Central Region honors from the NFCA and D2CCA, while Paap and Thell garnered All-Central Region honors from the D2CCA and the NFCA, respectively.
Ries and Meidl would both go on to claim All-American honors for their efforts during the 2017 season. Ries, who received All-American First Team honors from the NFCA and D2CCA was also named the D2CCA Pitcher of the Year and the NFCA Player of the Year. Ries also excelled in the classroom as she became the fourth Maverick softball player to receive CoSIDA Academic All-American honors. Meidl was named to the NFCA All-American Second Team as well.
Wolcott, along with head coach Lori Meyer, and graduate assistant Sammie Hildreth, were named the NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year for their efforts.
In 2018, the Mavericks once again advanced to the NCAA Tournament as they finished their season with a 35-19 record, including a 14-10 NSIC record. MSU fell to Southern Arkansas 9-1 on day one, but rebounded on day two with wins over Washburn (10-6) and Augustana (9-4). The Mavericks would eventually fall to Southern Arkansas by the score of 4-3 to end their season.
Senior Jessica Meidl went on to receive All-American honor from both the NFCA and D2CCA. In total four Mavericks including Carly Esselman, Hannah McCarville, Jessica Meidl and McKenzie Paap received All-NSIC honors.
The 2019 season saw the Mavericks put together their 14th consecutive winning season as MSU finished with a 37-19 record, including a 20-10 NSIC record. The Mavericks finished fifth in the NSIC standings and advanced to the final day of the NSIC Tournament. Both Cori Kennedy and McKenzie Paap were named to the All-NSIC Second Team, while Amber Kral garnered CoSIDA Academic All-American honors.
In 2020, the Mavericks held a 17-3 record before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Seven Mavericks were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team, while Carly Esselman claimed CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team honors.
In 2021, Minnesota State assembled a 40-10 record as the Mavericks finished second in the NSIC standings with a 23-5 conference record. Six Mavericks claimed All-NSIC honors as MSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning its fourth NSIC Tournament championship in team history. MSU went 2-2 at the NCAA Central Region Tournament as MSU advanced to the final day before being eliminated by Augustana. Mackeznie Ward would be named to the NFCA and D2CCA All-American First Teams.
The 2022 season saw Minnesota State finish with a 48-14 record, to go along with another second place finish in the NSIC standings with a 26-4 record. MSU would receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Central Region Tournament. The Mavericks would advance to the final day of the sub region tournament before being eliminated by the eventual NCAA Champions in Rogers State. Ward once again was named to the NFCA and D2CCA All-American First Teams for her efforts.
The Mavericks finished the 2023 season with a 31-19 record as MSU took fourth place in the NSIC standings with a 20-10 conference record. Five Mavericks claimed All-NSIC honors. In 2024, Minnesota State put together a 39-16 record and four Mavericks earned All-NSIC honors.
Wolcott again helped the Mavericks reach the NCAA Tournament in 2025, where they played three games in the Central Region Tournament in Edmond, Oklahoma and finished with a 39-20 overall record, including four all-conference selections.
During her time at Waldorf College – an NAIA program in Forest City Iowa, which is Wolcott’s alma mater, she guided the Warriors to a 48-36 record. In 2009, Wolcott guided the Warriors to the NAIA national tournament and a Midwest Collegiate Conference crown.
While at Minnesota State as a graduate assistant, Wolcott saw the Mavericks play to an 87-31 record including a pair of NCAA Central Region appearances. During that time the Mavericks also won the North Central Conference (2007) and finished second in the league in 2008.
Wolcott also played at Waldorf from 2001-04 where she was a part of two conference championship teams and was named an Academic All-American. She was also an all-conference and all-region pick in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Following her playing career at Waldorf, she served as a graduate assistant at Northern Colorado for a season.
Wolcott lives in North Mankato with her wife Jaimee and son Tekaree.
