Camp DirectorsCamp Directors
John Rittman
(Head Coach)
Head coach John Rittman begins his 15th season at the helm of the Stanford softball program. Since coming to The Farm in July 1996, Rittman, who is also a member of the United States National Team coaching staff, has brought the Cardinal from a fledgling program to a fully-funded championship contender. Entering the 2010 season, Rittman's .685 winning percentage distinguishes him as one of the NCAA's most successful active Division I coaches.
Under Rittman, the Cardinal has recorded 13 consecutive winning seasons, made 12 straight NCAA appearances, notched 11 40-win seasons and produced at least one All-American in each of the last 12 years. Since coming to Stanford, Rittman has accumulated a 562-258-3 overall mark, coached 15 All-Americans and maintained a spot in every regular-season NFCA poll for more than a decade.
Rittman brings a great deal of international coaching experience to The Farm as well, having been a member of the United States National Team coaching staff since 2001.
In the summer of 2008, Rittman made his second coaching appearance in the Olympic Games, and was an integral part of the staff that led Team USA to a silver medal in Beijing, China. The squad won its first eight games of the tournament, most by considerable margins, and outscored opponents 58-5 over the nine games. Two of Rittman's former pupils, outfielder Jessica Mendoza and utility player Lauren Lappin, were part of the medal-winning team and carried two of the team's top three batting averages on the 40-city Bound 4 Beijing Tour leading up to the Games.
In 2007, Rittman coached the USA Team that won its second consecutive title at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, and its eighth title at the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lappin and Mendoza were both key players on that squad.
In 2006, he helped Team USA to its eighth consecutive World Championship in Bejing, a World Cup of Softball title and a gold medal at the Japan Cup in Yokohama.
Rittman also coached the USA Elite Team that won the 2005 Intercontinental Cup in Madrid, Spain. Former Stanford players Lappin and Catalina Morris were members of Rittman's USA Elite Team, as well as former Cardinal great Dana Sorensen. Also in 2005, Rittman helped the national team to a title at the International Sports Invitational in Chula Vista, Calif. and a silver medal at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City.
In 2004, Rittman made his first appearance as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Team, guiding former Stanford player Mendoza and the rest of the team to a gold medal in Athens, Greece.
In 2003, the USA Team won gold medals at the Pan Am Games and the U.S. Cup. In addition, Rittman coached for the teams that won the 2002 U.S. Cup, the 2002 Canada Cup, the 2002 Japan Cup and the 2002 World Championship. In 2001, he coached the USA Red Team that won the gold medal at the U.S. Cup and competed in the Canada Cup and the USA Softball Shootout.
Rittman graduated from New Mexico State with a degree in journalism in 1986. He was a three-year letterwinner in baseball as an outfielder at NMSU after transferring from Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, Ariz. Rittman played two years of semi-pro baseball and fastpitch softball after his collegiate career. Rittman and his wife Lorie, a former softball player at Oklahoma, are the parents of Justin (14) and Jake (10).
Trisha Ford
(Associate Head Coach)
Trisha Ford, a former standout at Saint Mary's College, begins her ninth season on the Cardinal coaching staff and her second as the team's associate head coach.
A former pitcher and outstanding hitter, Ford came to The Farm in the summer of 2003, and has since helped the program's pitchers to notable success in the circle. In addition to being the primary pitching coach, Ford duties include working with the infielders. Off the field she is responsible for recruiting, community outreach and camps and clinics.
"Trisha is an outstanding coach and does a tremendous job working with our pitching staff and defense," said head coach John Rittman. "She brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to our coaching staff and has an amazing work ethic. Her dedication to our program both on and off the field has led to contributions in all aspects of the program. We're proud to have someone of her caliber on our staff."
Last season, Ford was a part of the staff that led the team to its winningest season in school history (48-11; .814). She helped senior pitcher Missy Penna garner her second All-America honor. With the help of Ford, Penna ranked among the top five pitchers nationally in shutouts (4th), strikeouts (5th) and wins (4th). Penna, who matched the previous conference record with five Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week awards during the year, was the first player in Stanford history to be among the final 10 USA Softball National Player of the Year finalists. Penna left Stanford as the program's career win (119), strikeout (1,267), shutout (50), innings pitched (1,086.1) and no-hitter (5) leader. The team concluded one of the most successful seasons to date, tallying its 11th 40-win season, competing in its 12th-straight NCAA Tournament and advancing to its fourth Super Regional in five years.
In 2008, Ford played a critical role in Stanford's success, guiding junior pitcher Missy Penna to a breakout season and her first career All-America honor. Under Ford's guidance, Penna set a school record with 37 wins, pitched a school-best 335 innings and became the eighth player in Pac-10 history, and the first at Stanford, to record 400 or more strikeouts in a single season. Behind one of the best team ERAs in school history (1.37), Stanford posted its second-highest win total with a 49-15 record, advanced to its 11th-straight NCAA Tournament and earned a trip to the College Station Super Regional.
In 2007, Ford was part of the staff that helped Stanford to its 11th consecutive winning season, a 35-21-1 overall record, its tenth-straight NCAA berth and a spot in the regional championship. Under Ford's guidance, Penna became just the second pitcher in program history to post 300 strikeouts in a season and the third to notch 25 or more wins.
Prior to coming to The Farm, Ford spent two seasons as the head softball coach at Saint Mary's College in Moraga. In 2003, Ford's squad finished the season with a 25-27 record and a .481 winning percentage, the best in school history. Prior to being named head coach, Ford served as an assistant at Saint Mary's in 2001.
In the spring of 2007, Ford was among six former athletes and coaches to be inducted into the Saint Mary's College Hall of Fame.
Ford graduated from Saint Mary's with a degree in politics in 1999. A native of Fremont, Calif., she earned nine varsity letters in softball, volleyball and basketball during her prep career at American High School. An All-East Bay pick as a senior, Ford was also a four-time All-Mission Valley Athletic League selection.
Ford and her husband, Eddie, married in the summer of 2005. Their first child, Emma, was born on August 16, 2007.
Claire Sua-Amundson
(Assistant Coach)
Former UCLA Bruin Claire Sua-Amundson enters her second season as an assistant coach with the Stanford softball staff. Sua-Amundson comes to The Farm from Cal Poly, where she spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Mustangs.
"We are very excited to have Claire join our program," said Rittman. "Claire brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our coaching staff. Anytime you have the success that she's had as both a player and an assistant coach, you know your program is going to reap the benefits."
One of the top hitters in UCLA and Pac-10 Conference history, Sua-Amundson's name dots the Bruin record book. A .325 career hitter who started all 240 games she appeared in at first base, Sua-Amundson enjoyed her top season as a Bruin in 2003, belting 17 homers and collecting 51 RBI in earning NFCA All-America, NFCA All-Pacific Region and All-Pac-10 first teams honors. The following season, Sua-Amundson was selected to the all-region and All-Pac-10 second teams after batting .297 with 10 homers.
Sua-Amundson enjoyed an immediate impact upon the UCLA program, recording 56 RBI during her 2001 freshman campaign to merit All-Pac-10 second team honors. She upped the total to 58 as a sophomore in 2002 to repeat as an All-Pac-10 pick and added both third team All-America and all-region honors to her resume.
During Sua-Amundson's tenure, UCLA captured Women's College World Series titles in 2003 and 2004. Her fifth-inning solo home run against California in the 2004 championship game broke up a no-hitter and helped propel UCLA to a 3-1 victory. Sua-Amundson was named to the 2001 WCWS All-Tournament Team after hitting .333 with six RBI during the competition.
 |
"We're extremely happy that both Claire and her husband, Matt, are joining our family here at Stanford," said Rittman.