Colby College

Dorothy O’Donnell joined the Colby College Softball program as an assistant coach in 2018. She was elevated to Assistant Head Coach in August of 2023.
 
CAREER AT A GLANCE:

• Since joining the coaching staff prior to the 2018 season, O’Donnell has helped the Mules earn four NESCAC postseason appearances in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, reaching the conference semifinals in 2023 and 2025.
• At Colby, O’Donnell has helped the Mules to an 87-105 (.453) overall record, including a 40-46 (.465) mark in NESCAC games.
• Has coached numerous NESCAC All-Conference members – Jackie Hill (2021, 2023), Amanda Cabral (2022), Abby Orso (2021, 2024), Chloe Wilcox (2022, 2023, 2024) and Carissa Cassidy (2023, 2024, 2025).
• O’Donnell has tutored multiple Maine College Baseball & Softball Association All-State selections – Abby Orso (2024), Chloe Wilcox (2024), Victoria Ramirez (2024), Ella Wilcox (2025), Carissa Cassidy (2025), Sophia Meade (2025).
• O’Donnell has coached 12 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selections – Chloe Wilcox (2022, 2023, 2024), Abby Orso (2022, 2023, 2024), Ashley Ketchum (2022), Jackie Hill (2023), Victoria Ramirez (2024), Carissa Cassidy (2024, 2025) and Courtney Schumacher (2024).
• Has coached one Marjorie D. Bither Award winner – Abby Orso (2024).

• While at Ellsworth High School, O’Donnell helped the Eagles post a 20-17 (.541) overall record with two Class B North postseason trips in 2017 and 2018 along with one regional semifinal appearance in 2017.
• At Ellsworth, O’Donnell mentored three Penobscot Valley Conference players and seven Penobscot Valley Conference All-Academic selections.
• During her time at Husson, O’Donnell helped the Eagles post a 64-25-1 (.717) overall record, including a 30-2 (.938) mark in conference play with two North Atlantic Conference championships in 2012 and 2013 along with two NCAA Tournament appearances in those same seasons.

• At Husson, she coached one North Atlantic Conference Rookie of the Year and nine North Atlantic Conference All-Conference selections.

• 2023-Present: Colby College (Assistant Head Coach)
• 2019-23: Colby College (Assistant Coach)
• 2017-18: Ellsworth High School (Head Varsity Softball Coach)
• 2016: Ellsworth High School (Head Junior Varsity Softball Coach)
• 2013: Husson University (Assistant Coach)
• 2012: Husson University (Student Assistant Coach)

• As a player, O’Donnell was a four-year letter winner as a member of the Husson University Eagles Softball program as an outfielder from 2008-11, earning two North Atlantic Conference All-Conference first team selections in 2009 and 2010.
• O’Donnell helped Husson to a 109-62 (.637) overall record, including a 57-5 (.919) mark in conference play with North Atlantic Conference championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011 along with three NCAA Tournament appearances in those same seasons.
• Earned North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year in 2010.
• In 167 career games, O’Donnell batted .355 for her career with 195 hits, 128 runs scored, 32 doubles, 14 triples, 11 home runs, 107 RBIs and 54 stolen bases.
• Selected to the 2009 and 2011 North Atlantic Conference All-Tournament team and was chosen as the tournament MVP in 2011.
• At the end of her playing days, O’Donnell was Husson Softball program’s record holder for career at-bats and hits. Additionally, she also held the program’s longest hitting (18 games) and reached base (31 games) streaks.

• A native of South Plainfield, N.J. (South Plainfield High School).
• O’Donnell earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice and psychology from Husson University in 2012.
• O’Donnell is two-time inductee of the Husson University Sports Hall of Fame, who was inducted in 2018 as an individual and as a coach of the 2013 Softball team in 2025.
• O’Donnell and her husband, Ryan, live in Bangor, Maine with their sons, Cameron, Nathan and Drew.