Jaqueline Patts

"Norwich University – its governing values, the staff, and students helped to profoundly impact me as a student, an athlete, and as a leader,” stated Coach Patts '00. “I am thrilled to rejoin the Norwich coaching staff and take on the responsibility of head coaching duties for the women’s softball team."

The phenomenal Coach Patts is back. Returning to her cherished alma mater, her leadership experience is unbeatable. From a highly successful student-athlete to a dedicated assistant coach and eventually to a dynamic head coach, she’s done everything and more.

Coach Highlights

Drawing from her rich personal journey, she guides players through their own unique Norwich experience, empowering them to seize every opportunity. 

• Recorded 50 wins in just three seasons during her first tenure as head coach.
• A passionate alumna who helps student-athletes maximize their Norwich experience.

She celebrates the fact that Norwich students are undeterred by the high standards required for success both on and off the diamond – in fact she knows firsthand they are hungry to rise and surpass those standards. Her dynamic leadership is allowing the cultivation of a resilient team culture that truly embodies the powerful Norwich motto “I Will Try.”

Proven Cadet Athlete with a Championship Mentality

Her grit, fierce determination, and competitive edge clearly showed through:

• Three-time team captain for Norwich softball, earning top team honors across multiple seasons.
• Recognized for best attitude, top offensive and defensive player, and rookie of the year.
• A fierce competitor and multisport standout, she helped lead the 2000 GNAC champion women’s basketball team.

She is an enthusiastic and experienced coach who will be a wonderful role model for her players,” explained Norwich University Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury. “Jackie also has great perspective on the role varsity sports play in the overall education of young women at Norwich, and she is energized by the opportunity to return to the head coaching position.

Q&A with Coach Patts

What brought you to becoming a coach for your sport?

Softball can be so electric. When you are the winning run pushing off from 2nd base, and you catch the coach’s right arm circling over and over for you to round third and head for home with all your might, the belief that the coach has full faith in you as you sprint as hard as you can,  sliding arms first under the catcher and beating the tag at the plate, scoring the winning run, and jumping up and looking back at the coach in pure joy and excitement is such a spiritual and magical moment of connection between player and coach. This short amount of time repays all the hard work and effort, the failure and frustration, the sweat and tears, and in that one moment of success, changes the trajectory of the athlete’s confidence indefinitely.  It’s for those moments why I love coaching softball.

Athletics has always been an integral part of my life and in coming back to Norwich, I was eager to give back my time and share my passion with a new generation of Norwich athletes. Rebuilding and setting the bar high for these athletes to advance their skill set and compete with integrity and pride is my overall goal for this season.

What excites you about this sport?

Fastpitch softball is a game of mental toughness, physical skill, and a little bit of luck! Nothing beats the buzz in the air when teammates advance one another on the bases or big-time plays are executed on the field.

What excites you about working with student-athletes?

Players are students first. Their academics consume much of their time, but for a few hours each day, they come together as teammates, as a collective unit, and work towards a common goal. These young adults bring all different backgrounds and experiences with them. It is my great honor watching them weave themselves into the Norwich fabric and come together as one body who fights for one another on and off the field. As a coach, I love watching them challenge themselves and one another as they advance on their athletic journey. When they graduate, it brings great pleasure reflecting on their individual growth, what mark they made on the team, and knowing that wherever they go next, a little bit of Norwich University softball will always be a part of them.

What do you like about coaching at Norwich?

Norwich is such a special and unique place, mainly in the three different lifestyles choices — Corps of Cadets, traditional, and commuter being at one campus. When they put on their practice attire or dress in their game uniform, it doesn’t matter which barrack or dorm they sleep in. They are all Norwich student athletes working their hardest to represent the pride of being a Norwich Cadet.

Why is Norwich a great place for student-athletes?

“Expect Challenge, Achieve Distinction” was a previous motto of the school. It applies even so today. Students come to Norwich seeking character and leadership development. They understand that they will face challenges in their academics, in their Corps of Cadets training, and/or in their athletic/club experiences. They are not fearful of the work that goes into overcoming the challenge. In fact, they thrive in it and sometimes seek it out, knowing it is molding them into more knowledgeable and experienced student-athlete.

What is your approach to coaching?

I aim to build a competitive and strong team culture of player development and personal responsibility, fostering a place of commitment and accountability, while helping to push and encourage each athlete to work towards meeting their full potential as a student athlete.

What is Norwich’s approach to athletics, training, and being on a team?

Being a Norwich athlete is a privilege. As a Norwich athlete, one gets to put on the uniform that brands the name Cadets and compete against other institutions around the U.S.. When competition faces Norwich University, they understand that this Norwich team is predictably fierce, disciplined, scrappy, and competitive.