Pearl arrived at Lewis in 2014 as the fifth coach in Lewis softball history. She came from Judson University where she was the head softball coach since 2004.
Over her 11 seasons with the Flyers, she has amassed 294 wins, led the Flyers to the 2023 GLVC Tournament Championship, was named the 2025 GLVA Coach of the Year, mentored 21 All-GLVC athletes and coached NFCA and D2CCA NCAA Division II All-American Delaney Garden, just the fifth All-American in program history.Â
In the 2025 campaign, Pearl led the Flyers to 37 wins and an appearance in the NCAA Midwest Regional for the third consecutive season. Individually, Delaney Garden was named the GLVC Pitcher and Player of the Year while Pearl collected GLVC Coach of the Year honors.
Four members of the team earned All-GLVC accolades with Garden, Kristen Graham, Allie Wondrasek and Ann Frafjord each collecting the honor. Additionally, Garden and Wondrasek were named NFCA All-Midwest Region honorees with Garden going on to earn NFCA and D2CCA NCAA Division II All-American accolades to become the programs fifth All-American.Â
During the 2024 campaign, Lewis recorded its most ever wins under Pearl as the Flyers recorded 40 victories and recorded its second straight appearance in the NCAA Midwest Regional.
Additionally in 2024, five players received All-GLVC Honors with Delaney Garden landing on the first team, Gabi Nilles and Allie Wondrasek were awarded second team while Jayln Powell and Payton Wuske earned third team. Garden would also earn NFCA DII Midwest Region First Team, D2CCA All-Midwest Region First Team and D2CCA All-American Honorable Mention as well.Â
In 2023, Pearl led the Flyers to their 11th GLVC Tournament crown in program history and first under Pearl with a 5-2 victory over Indianapolis. It marked the first appearance in the NCAA Midwest Regional for Lewis since the 2013 season as well. Individually, Garden was named to the All-GLVC First Team and was tabbed to the NFCA All-Midwest Region First Team.Â
In 10 seasons with the Judson prior to Lewis, Pearl set a school-record with over 250 victories and helped the Eagles advance to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Tournament six times, with three third-place finishes. In 2011, Pearl guided the Eagles to their first-ever Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) championship and was named the CCAC Coach of the Year for her efforts. That year, she was awarded the first of her three NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year awards, including being honored as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Regional Coach of the Year.
The Eagles had a plethora of individual success under Pearl, as she coached 32 NCCAA All-Region players, 27 CCAC All-Conference players, 21 NCCAA All-American players, six NCCAA All-Tournament players, three NFCA All-Region players, two CCAC Freshmen of the Year and two NAIA All-Region selections. Most recently, Pearl coached the 2014 North Central Region Player and Pitcher of the Year.
Pearl's players are traditionally excellent in the classroom. During her tenure, Pearl has coached 15 NCCAA Academic All-Americans, 10 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, five NFCA All-Academic Teams, four NAIA Scholar Team Award winners and one College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American.
Prior to her arrival in Elgin, Pearl spent seven years at Illinois Wesleyan both as a player (1998-2001) and as an assistant coach (2001-04). In those seven seasons, the Titans won 242 games, went to four NCAA Division III National Tournaments, won six College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships, one NCAA Regional Championship and finished third in the nation in 2003. Pearl was a member of the IWU staff that was named the 2003 CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year.
Pearl's Career Record
| Year |
Record |
Pct. |
Team |
| 2005 |
16-24 |
.400 |
Judson |
| 2006 |
15-25 |
.375 |
Judson |
| 2007 |
19-24 |
.441 |
Judson |
| 2008 |
24-24 |
.500 |
Judson |
| 2009 |
25-26 |
.490 |
Judson |
| 2010 |
31-29 |
.516 |
Judson |
| 2011 |
32-18 |
.640 |
Judson |
| 2012 |
28-27 |
.509 |
Judson |
| 2013 |
39-19 |
.672 |
Judson |
| 2014 |
22-25 |
.468 |
Judson |
| 2015 |
27-22 |
.551 |
Lewis |
| 2016 |
20-30 |
.400 |
Lewis |
| 2017 |
26-25 |
.510 |
Lewis |
| 2018 |
21-29 |
.420 |
Lewis |
| 2019 |
22-30 |
.423 |
Lewis |
| 2020^ |
13-6 |
.684 |
Lewis |
| 2021 |
26-18Â Â Â Â |
.591Â Â Â Â |
Lewis |
| 2022 |
24-26 |
.480 |
Lewis |
| 2023 |
38-20 |
.655 |
Lewis |
| 2024 |
40-17 |
.702 |
Lewis |
| 2025 |
37-20 |
.649 |
Lewis |
| Total |
545-485 |
.529 |
|
