Completed Event: Softball at #24/#22 UCF on April 18, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 9
Final
Softball
2
at #24/#22 UCF
9
USA Today Names McFalls Big 12 Coach of the Year, Boyer Big 12 Freshman of the Year
5/6/2026 11:08:00 AM | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The USA Today Sports Network released its All-Big 12 softball awards on Wednesday, with Kansas head coach Jennifer McFalls selected as Coach of the Year and freshman catcher Ella Boyer named Freshman of the Year.Â
Kansas softball has had its best season under McFalls in 2026. In her ninth season as head coach of Kansas Softball, McFalls has led Kansas to 34 overall wins and 14 conference wins, both the most in the McFalls era. Kansas' 34 wins are the most since 2015 (40), and the 14 Big 12 wins are the most in program history.Â
In 2026, McFalls coached the Jayhawks to 17 top 100 RPI wins, nine top 50 RPI wins and four top 25 RPI wins. McFalls has also guided Kansas to break multiple program records, including doubles (94), home runs (80), runs (354) and RBIs (336).Â
Kansas is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since McFalls took over as head coach, and the first time overall since 2015. This is the first Coach of the Year honors in McFalls' career, and the first Big 12 Coach of the Year honors in Kansas softball history.Â
Boyer, a freshman catcher from Spring, Texas, was one of the top bats in the Big 12 in 2026. Boyer's 18 home runs are a Kansas freshman single-season record and good for fourth in the Big 12. Going into the postseason, Boyer is also only four home runs away from tying the Kansas single-season home run record, regardless of class. To go along with her 18 home runs, Boyer leads Kansas with 56 RBIs, a 1.275 OPS, a .794 slugging percentage, 35 walks and a .481 on-base percentage.Â
Kansas heads into the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 5 seed, and will face No. 4 seed UCF on Thursday, May 7, at 11 a.m. CT at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and fans can follow along with updates on the Kansas Softball X account.
Kansas softball has had its best season under McFalls in 2026. In her ninth season as head coach of Kansas Softball, McFalls has led Kansas to 34 overall wins and 14 conference wins, both the most in the McFalls era. Kansas' 34 wins are the most since 2015 (40), and the 14 Big 12 wins are the most in program history.Â
In 2026, McFalls coached the Jayhawks to 17 top 100 RPI wins, nine top 50 RPI wins and four top 25 RPI wins. McFalls has also guided Kansas to break multiple program records, including doubles (94), home runs (80), runs (354) and RBIs (336).Â
Kansas is seeking its first NCAA Tournament appearance since McFalls took over as head coach, and the first time overall since 2015. This is the first Coach of the Year honors in McFalls' career, and the first Big 12 Coach of the Year honors in Kansas softball history.Â
Boyer, a freshman catcher from Spring, Texas, was one of the top bats in the Big 12 in 2026. Boyer's 18 home runs are a Kansas freshman single-season record and good for fourth in the Big 12. Going into the postseason, Boyer is also only four home runs away from tying the Kansas single-season home run record, regardless of class. To go along with her 18 home runs, Boyer leads Kansas with 56 RBIs, a 1.275 OPS, a .794 slugging percentage, 35 walks and a .481 on-base percentage.Â
Kansas heads into the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 5 seed, and will face No. 4 seed UCF on Thursday, May 7, at 11 a.m. CT at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and fans can follow along with updates on the Kansas Softball X account.
Players Mentioned
C
/ SoftballKansas Softball Media Availability
Tuesday, May 05
Jennifer McFalls Press Conference
Tuesday, May 05
Softball Highlights at #13 Oklahoma State
Monday, May 04
Softball Highlights vs. #13 Oklahoma State
Saturday, May 02