University of Memphis Athletics
Softball
- Title:
- Assistant Softball Coach
- Email:
- rrenfroe@memphis.edu
- Phone:
- 901-678-2498
Ellen Renfroe Reed is in her second year as an assistant coach with the University of Memphis after spending the 2014-15 season as a volunteer assistant coach.
In 2016, Reed guided sophomore Molly Smith to a team-leading 2.91 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 149.0 innings pitched. Smith was named three times to the American Weekly Honor Roll and returns to the rotation in 2017.
Reed had a record-setting career as a pitcher for the University of Tennessee and also played a season with the Chicago Bandits in 2015Â and a season with the Houston Scrap Yard Dawgs in 2016, both members of the National Pro Fastpitch league.Â
Reed comes from a softball family. Her older sister, Ivy Renfroe, pitched at Tennessee. Anna, the younger sister, played two seasons for the Lady Vols, but as an infielder, unlike her two sisters.
In her first year with the Bandits, she garnered three wins and struck out 19 batters over 30.0 innings of work.Â
Prior to pitching for the Bandits, Reed was a standout pitcher at the University of Tennessee. Nicknamed "The Spin Doctor" by ESPN's Beth Mowins, Reed finished her career at Tennessee with a 1.65 ERA and a 102-25 record. In her four-year career, she threw 84 complete games, 41 shutouts, two no-hitters and struck out 1,005 batters in over 175 appearances. She is one of three Lady Vols pitchers to win 30 games in a single season, joining her sister Ivy.Â
Reed was a two-time NFCA All-American (2011, 2012), a four-time NFCA All-Southeast Region pick, a three-time Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014) and a three-time All-SEC selection (2011, 2012, 2014). As a senior in 2014, she went 30-8 with a 2.02 ERA and 245 strikeouts.Â
A model student-athlete, Reed was named the 2014 Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for softball and the 2014 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the year. She was also a three-time Capital One Academic All-American (2012, 2013, 2014).Â
During her time at Tennessee, Reed helped the Lady Vols to two Women's College World Series appearances, including a runner-up performance in 2013. Reed's name appears throughout UT record books for her single season and career performances.Â
Besides helping the Tiger pitching staff, Renfroe also hosts several mini pitching clinics that are open to any and all entrants limited only by number, age and grade level. The clinics are open to ages seven to high school seniors. For more information and availability on the clinics please email renfroe13@gmail.com.
Reed is married to Jon Reed, a former Memphis baseball pitcher from 2013-14, and they live in Memphis with their dogs, Maggie and Mya.
