The softball offseason is producing storylines like never before and while most are positive, the controversial ones spread quickly.
An explosive report broke Tuesday afternoon and quickly grabbed the sport’s audience as Paige Durrenberger of Softball On SI reported on a Power 4 coaching candidate being investigated for alleged physical and mental abuse at two previous employers.
Jessica O’Donnell stepped down from the head coaching job at Kent State in June. At the time, she cited her child’s upcoming surgery and needed to spend more time with family than the job allowed. Kent State said she would transition to an administrative job within the athletic department. O’Donnell had also previously served as the head coach for Saint Francis (Pa.) (SFU).
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By September, Kent State confirmed that O’Donnell was no longer employed at the university. By October, she was reportedly being considered for the fourth assistant job at Maryland.
Durrenberger spoke to nine former student-athletes from Kent State and SFU and quoted five others who publicly posted about their experiences playing for O’Donnell.
The allegations from the former student-athletes described “a pattern of intimidation, control and degrading comments, including allegations that players were pressured to compete through physical injuries despite formal diagnoses from medical personnel.”
Six sources from Kent State and three from Saint Francis spoke to Durrenberger. Three were on the record by name; the other six remained anonymous due to fear of retaliation.
After reading the story, it’s understandable why they opted for anonymity.
O’Donnell also provided a statement and addressed the allegations without even knowing what they were.
Abbey Pochie was a pitcher for the Golden Flashes during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. She described leg pain that began in 2025, which she initially thought was shin splints.
“I was given crutches, and yet I was still playing on it,” Pochie told Durrenberger. “I had to wear the boot at all times, except when I was going to go warm up to go into the game, or when I was actively in the game, and then I would have to put the boot back on when I was officially done pitching for the day. But my coaching staff said that crutches were not allowed off of the bus or anywhere near [the] field.”
Pochie was allegedly told that the pain was in her head, despite an MRI revealing a grade 4 stress fracture in her tibia. O’Donnell sent her to see a therapist instead.
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Another pitcher, who remained anonymous, chose not to reveal her injury to the coaching staff. She was having difficulty breathing and putting on her own socks, but suffering through the pain was better than what the coaching staff would put her through based on how they treated her teammates.
“I was terrified to tell her, and I hid it for so long because I was scared to tell her,” the player said. “It got to the point where I couldn’t even stand up straight, or I couldn’t even breathe.”
This player was diagnosed with a fractured L3 vertebra.
Players from Saint Francis experienced similar treatment but the most surprising discovery came from social media.
Elliott Sanders recalled her freshman year at SFU when she was in a car accident and admitted to the intensive care unit for two weeks after sustaining a broken femur, broken and bruised ribs, a collapsed lung and a brain bleed.
When Sanders returned for her sophomore year, she felt like she had been punished for her accident and endured a verbally abusive attack from her coach.
“It was an overall absolutely horrible, degrading experience,” Sanders said. “It killed my love of the game, and I blame her for that.”
Tessa Thompson, who played at Saint Francis in 2023, posted a TikTok video about her personal experience playing for O’Donnell. It has garnered more than 800,000 views and 75,000 likes. It also provided a safe place for several former student-athletes to share their stories.
Pochie also posted her story in a two-part TikTok series that accumulated more than 80,000 views.
O’Donnell declined an interview and provided a statement to Softball On SI. She addressed each of the allegations without answering any questions.
“I have always been, and always will be, a supportive, encouraging, and caring coach,” O’Donnell said. “Do I have high standards? Absolutely. Most successful coaches do. I expect a lot from my athletes because I believe in what they are capable of, and that belief has been a big part of the success I’ve had as a coach.”
“But I have never, and will never, put winning above the physical or emotional well-being of an athlete.”
Softball On SI published screenshots of emails sent to Kent State administration about O’Donnell’s conduct, confirming that decision-makers within the athletic department were well aware of the head coach’s conduct.
“I care deeply,” O’Donnell added. “I expect a lot. I push my athletes because I believe in them, but I will always care about the person before the athlete. I have a lot of pride in preparing our young women for life after softball. Caring as much as I do does not make me a bad coach. It’s a big part of what makes me the coach and person I am.”
To read the full report from Softball On SI, click here.
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