Softball Coaches
Paula U'Ren
Head Coach
Alma Mater: Augustana, 1995
Hometown: Mapleton, MN
Phone: 320-308-2900
E-mail: pjuren@stcloudstate.edu
Nikki Smith
Graduate Assistant Coach
Nikki Smith returns for her second season with the SCSU softball coaching staff in 2007 as a graduate assistant. Smith graduated from Concordia-St. Paul University in 2006 with a degree in kinesiology. Before transferring to C-SP in 2005, Smith started her collegiate softball career at the University of North Dakota for two seasons. During her tenure with the Golden Bears, Smith was named All-NSIC Honorable Mention and NSIC Athlete of the Week three times. In 2005, Smith was the team leader in home runs for the Golden Bears, who made an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance. While in college, Smith was named to the Dean's list three years and graduated Summa Cum Laude. A native of Anoka, Minn., where she was a three-sport athlete (softball, volleyball, track) at Anoka H.S., Smith is working towards her master's of science in physical education, health and adaptive phy ed.
Ashley Partlow
Graduate Assistant Coach
Ashley Partlow joins the Husky softball staff in 2007-08 as a graduate assistant coach. A native of Spencer, Iowa, Partlow graduated from Buena Vista University in 2007 with a bachelor’s of arts in exercise science. During her tenure at BVU, Partlow was a four-year starter in softball under Coach Marge Willadsen, and played third base and catcher. She earned the Big Stick Award, was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and ranks in the top-ten of four career/season records at BVU. In high school, Partlow graduated from Spencer High in 2002. For the Tigers, she was a four-time letter winner in softball and basketball, and a two-time letter winner in track. Throughout her softball prep career, Partlow earned three All-Conference First Team awards, was named her team’s Most Valuable Player and was an All-State player in 2002. Partlow also was a state qualifier in track and earned the Coach’s Award in basketball for the SHS Tigers. In her spare time, Partlow loves to golf. She will be working towards a master’s of science in sport management at SCSU.
Jennifer Bakke
Graduate Assistant Coach
Originally from Anoka, Jenny Bakke plans to coach softball at SCSU in 2007-08 as a graduate assistant coach under Husky head coach Paula U’Ren. The daughter of Donald and Kathy Bakke, Bakke graduated from Anoka High School in 2000 and was a three-time letter winner in softball and tennis in high school. Bakke was a three-time All-Conference and All-Region player in softball and was named to the All-State team in 1998 and 1999. In tennis, Bakke gained All-Conference honors three years, as well as All-Region status three years. After her prep career, Bakke attended North Dakota State University and played softball under Coach Darren Mueller. She was named the North Central Conference Rookie of the Year in 2001 and went on to have an All-American career at NDSU. In 2002, she tallied All-Region honors, in 2003 she earned All-Conference honors, and in 2003 and 2004, Bakke gained All-American status. Bakke completed her career for the Bison batting .408 in 210 games played, and charted 250 hits, including 36 home runs and 181 RBIs. She holds the NDSU record for highest slugging percentage in a season (2003; .888) and in a career (2001-04; .700). She also holds the record for most walks in a career (2001-04; 121 walks), most triples in a season (2001; 8 triples) and most home runs in a season (2002; 17 home runs). A well-rounded student athlete, Bakke also gained 2004 Academic All-NCC honors and was named to the 2004 Verizon Academic All-American District team. During her tenure at NDSU, Bakke also helped lead the Bison to an 8th place finish at the NCAA College Softball Division II World Series in 2002 and a third place finish at the NCAA College Softball Division II World Series in 2003.
A 2004 graduate from NDSU with a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and sales, Bakke plans to pursue a master’s of science in sports management at St. Cloud State with an emphasis in athletic directing.
Danielle Stump
Student Assistant Coach
Danielle Stump joins the Husky softball coaching staff in 2007-08 as a student assistant coach. The Jackson, Minn., native is no stranger to the SCSU athletic department as she played both softball and volleyball in the Cardinal and Black. Stump was a member of the Husky softball team from 2004-2006. Under the helm of current softball head coach Paula U’Ren, Stump saw action in 34 games and tallied five hits, one double and nine runs scored. In volleyball, Stump played for two years under current head coach Patricia Mickow. The defensive specialist joined the Husky volleyball squad in 2005 after red-shirting with the SCSU softball team in 2004. In two seasons, Stump tallied 197 digs (2.77 dpg) and seven serving aces in 71 games played. A 2003 graduate of Jackson County Central High School and a three-sport prep athlete, Stump is the daughter of Randy and Barb Stump of Jackson, Minn. A member of the Dean's List at SCSU, Stump is pursuing a degree in elementary education with a minor is special education.
Kelli Niess
Volunteer Student Assistant Coach
Kellie Niess joins the Husky softball staff as a volunteer student coach in 2007-08. Niess is a 2007 product of Concordia College in Moorhead where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with degrees in political science and history. Niess was named the softball Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Rookie of the Year in 2004. She was also named All-Conference that spring, the first of three she would attain in her tenure. As a junior in 2006, she won her second All-Conference honor and was named third team Academic All-District by ESPN The Magazine. As a 2007 senior this past spring Niess captained the Cobbers while earning her third All-Conference, and third team All-Midwest Region honors by the NFCA. ESPN The Magazine again named her Academic All-District, this time to the second team. While in college Niess spent her summers coaching youth softball at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, and at Sauk Rapids-Rice. A Rice, Minn. native, Niess currently resides in St. Cloud.
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