Wisconsin Badgers

Associate head coach Mike Roberts enters his fourth season with the Badgers. In 2024, Roberts developed transfer Molly Jacobson in just one season to NFCA Great Lakes All-Region honors. Jacobson earned Third Team honors on 34 appearances with a 12-6, career-best record. She held a 3.64 ERA with four complete games, and added two saves in 2024.

Head coach Yvette Healy on Mike Roberts:
 
"We're thrilled to welcome new Associate Head coach Mike Roberts back home to Wisconsin," said Badger head coach Yvette Healy. "Mike has recruited and developed All-American, conference Player of the Year pitchers at every stop in his career, from Oregon, to Washington, to the University of Louisiana Lafayette. He coached former Badger Softball great, Taylor-Paige Stewart with the New Zealand national team, before joining the current USA National team staff.  For as good of a coach as Mike is, he's an even better person.
 
"After advancing to six NCAA tournaments and five Regional Championship appearances in last 10 years, we're excited for Coach Roberts to help Wisconsin softball take the next step to the Sweet 16 and World Series!" added Healy.
 
Prior to Wisconsin, Roberts served as the Associate Head Coach and Pitching Coach at the University of Virginia, Roberts coach Eden Bigham to All-ACC and NFCA All-Region honors, and helped the Cavaliers hit the 30-win mark for the first time in school history since 2010.

The New Zealand native brings a wealth of collegiate and national experience to the Badgers. He has helped coach and develop All-American players including Summer Ellyson (Louisiana), Taran Alvelo (Washington), and Cheridan Hawkins and Megan Kleist (Oregon). Roberts also has international experience and currently serving as a coach with the USA/ASA Women's Softball National Team and serving as an assistant coach with the New Zealand Women's National Team.

"I am excited to be back in the state of Wisconsin, and honored to be a part of the rich history of the Wisconsin Badgers and its softball program," elated Mike Roberts. "I want to thank Coach Healy for this amazing opportunity. Wisconsin softball has hard working student-athletes, the backing of an amazing athletic department and University, and the support from the community of Madison. Goodman Diamond will be an exciting place to be in the coming years."

Prior to his time at Virginia, Roberts helped the Ragin' Cajuns to back-to-back Sun Belt Championships and advance to a pair of NCAA regional finals. He also coached Ellyson to Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year honors twice and 2019 All-American honors.

Roberts also served as the head coach at Buffalo during the 2018 season, improving the Bull's win total by seven games overall from the previous season, and coached a pair of players to all-conference honors.

During his time at Washington, Roberts served as the pitching coach with the Huskies (2015-17), and helped Washington to three-straight 40-win seasons and get to the semifinals of the Women's College World Series in 2017. Roberts helped develop All-American Alvelo who earned All-PAC honors in 2017 as she turned in a 35-9 record with a 1.89 ERA and 200 strikeouts stat line. The Kiwi was pat of the Pacific Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2017 as well.

Before joining the Huskies, Roberts spent the 2014 season as the pitching coach at Oregon, helping the team post a 56-9-1 record and advance to the semifinals of the WCWS that year. He coached Hawkins to All-America honors as well as first-team All-PAC 12 recognition, posting 35 wins and striking out 330 batters. The 2014 season saw Roberts and the Ducks' coaches earn Pacific Coaching Staff of the Year.

Roberts began his coaching career in the collegiate ranks with the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay where he served as the pitching coach from 2009-12.

He also brings playing experience with him as he claimed an ASA national title, an ISF junior world title and eight New Zealand national titles. Roberts is a two-time ASA All-American.

The New Zealand native is married to Therese and the couple have two children, Lauren and Mitch. Mitch is currently the head softball coach at St. Could University.