LOWELL, Mass. — UMass Lowell softball head coach Jen Starek has announced the promotion of Brenna Martini to associate head coach, recognizing her impact on the program's growth and player development since joining the staff in 2022.
"Brenna has been a key part of our program over the last four years and has put in so much time and effort behind the scenes," commented Starek. "This promotion is well deserved, and I'm excited to have her take on new responsibilities and help increase our team's success."
In her first season with the program, Martini helped establish an immediate foundation for success as UMass Lowell tied its Division I program record with 28 wins and produced eight All-Conference honorees, setting a new standard for the program.
Over the next two seasons, Martini's impact became increasingly evident through player development and roster progression. In 2023, she played a key role in integrating a large newcomer class while guiding individual growth across the roster, including milestone pitching achievements and conference-level offensive recognition.
That progress showed up on the field in 2024, when the River Hawks earned the No. 5 seed in the America East Championship and advanced to the conference title game for just the second time in program history. Along the way, multiple players reached career milestones, young contributors stepped into impactful roles, and the River Hawks recorded upset tournament wins over UMBC and Bryant to reach the final.
This past season, Martini continued to push the program forward as underclassmen took on bigger roles in both the circle and the lineup, contributing to another postseason appearance for the River Hawks.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into this role as associate head coach," said Martini. "I'd like to thank Jen Starek for the trust and mentorship that led to this opportunity. I'm looking forward to the season ahead and what's in store for our program."
Before arriving at UMass Lowell, Martini was one of the most decorated players in Adelphi University softball history and was most recently inducted into the Adelphi Athletics Hall of Fame. She earned three consecutive NE10 Player of the Year awards and multiple NFCA All-American honors. She also gained collegiate coaching experience at Adelphi, developing All-Conference and All-American talent before joining the River Hawks.
Martini's promotion marks the next step for both her and the continued growth of the River Hawk softball program.
