O'Byrne Named Pitching Coach For Cobber Softball

MOORHEAD, Minn. (8/26/21)---Head Coach Chad Slyter announced the hiring of Kara O'Byrne as the pitching coach for the program. O'Byrne replaces Logan Hebert who resigned to take a coaching position at Emory University.

O'Byrne, a native of Stewartville, Minn. played for NCAA Division I North Dakota State University for the past four years.

"I'm extremely excited to have Kara as a part of our coaching staff," Slyter said. "She has pitched and played at a high level in high school and for some of the top organizations of club ball in Minnesota. Having also played at one of the best mid major programs with the Bison, Kara brings a great pedigree with her to the Cobbers."

During her 4-year career with the Bison, O'Byrne amassed a total of 143.0 innings pitched. Her career season came in 2019 when she was in the circle for 42.1 innings and had a 2.81 earned run average and a 3-2 record. O'Byrne was named the Summit League Pitcher of the Week during the 2019 campaign and earned a spot on the Summit League Commisioners List. O'Byrne was also placed on the NFCA All American Scholar Athlete and Summit League Honor Roll during her junior and senior seasons. She completed her Bison career with a 4.31 Earned Run Average.

O'Byrne had a standout high school career as well. She a Minnesota First Team All-State selection for Stewartville High School where she compiled a 17-4 record with 283 strikeouts in 131 innings. O'Byrne also played in the Minnesota Prep All Star Game and was a Ms. Softball Minnesota finalist.

During her fall and summer seasons, O'Byrne played with the Midwest Speed, Minnesota Sting and Rochester Royals organizations. In 2015, while playing for the Speed, she tallied 100 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched. O'Byrne helped her team to a third-place finish at the PGF Nationals in 2017 and a World Series Championship in 2014 with the Royals.