Ashley McDonald - Softball Coach - Princeton University Athletics

Ashley McDonald

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
ashleyam@princeton.edu

A two-year captain on Ivy League championship teams, Ashley McDonald '23 returned to the Princeton softball program as an assistant coach in January 2025.

"I am super excited for this opportunity to return to Princeton and be a part of this softball program again," McDonald said upon her hiring. "My experience as a student-athlete was incredible as we won two Ivy League championships and made an appearance at NCAA regionals my junior year. When this opportunity came up, I kept reflecting on my passion for softball and all that it has given me. I am looking forward to the opportunity to give back to the game and make more dreams come true for aspiring softball players. Using my prior skills as a player and two-time captain along with my developed professional skills, I am confident I will help continue fostering a positive student-athlete experience and win more championships."

McDonald returned to a program that followed the two titles won during her final seasons as a player with the program with the 2024 Ivy League title, league tournament title and the program's first win at an NCAA regional since 2005.

"We are so fortunate to welcome Ashley McDonald back to our program as an assistant coach," Princeton head coach Lisa Van Ackeren said upon McDonald's hiring. "Ashley understands our program and the championship culture that we have built. Her experience navigating the challenges of two COVID seasons to winning two Ivy titles in her with us speaks volumes about her mental approach and leadership. Ashley is detail oriented, values quality preparation and most importantly, she loves this game and this program. This makes her well positioned to support our team now as a coach and elevate our program as we take on the most competitive spring schedule in recent memory."

McDonald's first two seasons were limited due to the pandemic, as she played just nine games over those two springs as her rookie year of 2020 was cut short once competition was canceled and her sophomore year included just three games for the team as Princeton was limited to a schedule of local competition. Once the Tigers were back to a full schedule in 2022, McDonald led the Ivy League in runners caught stealing (11) and putouts (354) as Princeton won the Ivy title and the Ivy League Championship Series to make the NCAA tournament. Princeton repeated as Ivy champs in her senior year of 2023 and hosted the first edition of the current Ivy League Tournament, making the tournament final.

McDonald earned her bachelor's degree from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and spent her time since graduation working at AArete Consulting in Chicago as an analyst.