Kirsten Verdun is in her eighth season as an associate head coach for the Badgers, working primarily with the pitching staff.
In the 2019 season, Verdun helped her pitchers to an overall 43-14 record. Verdun helped Kaitlyn Menz have a season high of 10 strikeouts against Texas Southern. Menz was named to the second team All-Big Ten. The team had a season high of 13 strikeouts against Indiana. Wisconsin posted their second most wins in program history, including a win against No. 1 Oklahoma.
During the 2018 season, Verdun mentored one of the most dynamic pitching duos in program history. She helped freshman Haley Hestekin to a 17-7 (.708) record during her rookie season for the second-best winning percentage in team history and best by a freshman. Sophomore Kaitlyn Menz led the team in strikeouts with 115 fanned batters on the season. Hestekin and Menz combined for seven shutouts.
Hestekin and Menz both earned Big Ten honors in 2018. Hestekin was named to the All-Big Ten second team and freshman team while Menz earned All-Big Ten defensive team honors.
In 2017, Verdun guided rookie Kaitlyn Menz through 35 starts in 38 appearances, the second-most starts in a single season by a UW pitcher. Menz collected 24 victories in the circle, the third-most by a Badger pitcher and the second-most by a rookie, and became just the second-ever freshman to throw a no-hitter when Wisconsin topped Louisville on March 22.
Menz and senior Kirsten Stevens each earned weekly Big Ten honors during the 2017 season, and the pitching staff as a whole locked up the fifth-most shutouts in program records.
In her first year at Wisconsin, Verdun coached Taylor-Paige Stewart to second team All-Big Ten and NFCA Great Lakes All-Region second team honors. Verdun guided Stewart as she became UW’s career leader in saves and clinched the fifth-most career wins in school history.
Verdun, a former graduate assistant coach at Louisville, brought a new perspective to Madison after spending one year with the Cardinals where she assisted the coaches with office duties, practice drills, youth camps and game day operations.
After graduating in 2014, Verdun played professionally for one year with the Chicago Bandits. She signed with the Bandits via open tryouts in May 2014 and made her National Pro Fastpitch league debut in the circle against the Akron Racers on May 30, 2014. She pitched the Bandits to her first win against the Pennsylvania Rebellion in a complete game outing on July 26, 2014.
She posted a 1-0 record with one save and 13 strikeouts in her first season with the Bandits. In her 2015 campaign with the Bandits, Verdun tossed a complete game shutout in the Bandits’ NPF opener against the Rebellion.
Before taking her talents to Louisville, Kentucky and the NPF, Verdun was a standout at DePaul University. The two-time All-American (2012 and 2014) helped DePaul to two NCAA regional final appearances and the 2014 Big East Conference regular season and tournament titles.
“Kirsten is a go-getter,” Healy said. “She’s driven, competitive, and knows how to win. Anytime you can add someone to your staff who was both an Athletic and Academic All-American, you’re lucky.”
Verdun was named the 2014 Big East Pitcher of the Year in addition to being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Championship.
The star-studded pitcher became the first pitcher in program history to accumulate 900-innings with more than 900 strikeouts and 100 or more wins. She still holds the Blue Demons’ school record for career starts, strikeouts looking and batters faced, while finishing second in the record books in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, appearances and complete games.
The four-time all-conference and all-Great Lakes Region selection was a double threat in the circle and at the plate. Verdun, who held a .347 career hitting percentage, knocked out 37 home runs and ranks second in DePaul’s record books. She holds the record for most career walks with 156.
“Kirsten had more than 100 wins in the circle, and hit nearly 40 homeruns in her career at DePaul, while leading her team to three NCAA Regional Championship games,” Healy added. “Her experience coaching at the University of Louisville with Sandy Pearsall and Jay Miller really helped prepare her for this opportunity. Yet beyond all of Kirsten’s success as a collegiate and professional athlete for the Chicago Bandits, it’s truly her character, passion and enthusiasm that we’re most excited about.”
Verdun was just as successful in the classroom as she was in the circle. The Big East Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2014, Verdun was named to the DePaul University Dean’s List eight consecutive quarters, the DePaul University Athletic Director’s honor roll every quarter and landed a spot on the Big East All-Academic team from 2011-2014.
The Coal City, Illinois native was also a pitching and hitting instructor in Coal City, giving lessons and running camps for young athletes to teach them proper techniques and skills. In the summer of 2013, Verdun worked with the Joliet Slammers as a promotions intern, assisting with all pre-game, in-game and postgame promotions.
Verdun graduated from DePaul in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media with a minor in applied economics.
Verdun is the daughter of Brad and Judy Verdun and has one older brother, Ryan.
