Pat Kent

Wayne State University Athletics

Title

Assistant Coach

UPDATED 6-28-2020

Starts her 42nd season with the softball program in the fall of 2020 (4 as a player, 2 as a graduate assistant coach, and entering 36th year as an assistant coach)
2016 NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year for Division II
Mentored 175 Academic All-GLIAC honorees over the last 18 years (2003-20)
Helped WSU advance to the College World Series three times (2003, 2010 and 2014)

Pat Kent begins her 38th season as an assistant softball coach at Wayne State in the fall of 2020.

In the fall of 2016, Kent was the recipient of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year award for NCAA Division II.

A former All-American, Kent has been associated with the WSU softball program for the last 41 years spending her first four seasons as a player, followed by a two-year stint as a graduate assistant coach (1984-85) and the last 35 years as an assistant coach.

She has aided head coach Gary Bryce in becoming the NCAA Division II all-time winningest softball coach with 1,317 wins entering the 2021 campaign.

As an assistant softball coach, Kent's responsibilities include coaching infielders and outfielders, serving as an academic advisor, and assisting head coach Gary Bryce with scheduling, recruiting, fund raising and budget preparation.

One who always emphasizes academics, Kent has helped 175 Warrior softball student-athletes earn Academic All-GLIAC recognition over the last 18 years (2003-20).

WSU has made 23 appearances (1983-84-86-88-90-92-93-94-96-02-03-06-07-08-09-10-12-13-14-15-16-17-19) in the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament since 1982, sixth most in NCAA Division II. The 2009 senior class was the first in school history to make four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, while the class of 2010 became the first with three 40-plus win seasons. Meanwhile, the class of 2015 also made four NCAA Tournament appearances and became the first WSU class to win four straight GLIAC Tournament titles.

Besides her duties in softball, Kent assisted Bryce for three seasons (1986-89) as an assistant women's basketball coach.

Kent was a member of the Warrior softball team from 1980-83, primarily playing second base, and was named to the NCAA Division II All-America First Team in 1983. She was named to the All-GLIAC First Team following her junior and senior seasons. Kent also received the squad's Most Dedicated Softball Player award during her career.

In recognition of her outstanding Warrior softball career, Kent was inducted into the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, becoming the first softball player to enter the Hall.

Bryce and Kent are the driving force behind the fund raising efforts for Wayne State's softball program. Both work tirelessly in organizing and conducting softball camps all year long. In January and February, high school pitchers from around the state participate in Wayne State's pitching clinic, one of the most successful camps in Southeast Michigan.

A native of Detroit, and graduate of Harper Woods Regina High School, Kent played organized softball for 17 years, basketball for nine seasons and volleyball for two years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Wayne State in 1984, and a Master of Education degree in Sports Administration from WSU in 1986.

Kent is a physical education teacher in the Clarkston (Mich.) Public Schools and resides in Sterling Heights.