IRSC Softball Welcomes Jenny Gladding Denischuck As New Assistant Coach
There is exciting news from Indian River State College Softball, the best softball player in the history of the Treasure Coast has come home. IRSC's Head Softball Coach Dale Atkinson has added Jennifer Gladding Denischuk as the Pioneer's pitching coach for the 2019-2020 season.
Coach Atkinson stated, "We are very excited to have Jenny join the Pioneer coaching staff. She is a great addition to the staff and our pitchers are very fortunate have someone as knowledgeable as Jenny here with us."
Jenny is a native of Palm City, FL and a graduate of Martin County High School where she compiled an incredible high school career. Her accomplishment at MCHS include:
• A career 91-8 record and a 0.23 ERA
• 30 no-hitters with 1,454 strikeouts in her four years
• 55 career shutouts, striking out 10 or more batters in 87 games
• A .412 batting average over four years
• Named the Palm Beach Post and Stuart News Player of the Year three times
• Four-time FHSAA all-state selection
• Three-time NFCA All-South Region and All-American Selection
• Florida 6A Player of the year twice
• Named Miss Softball-Florida Player of the Year in 1998
• Named the Gatorade All-South Player of the Year in 1999
• Selected to try out for the Junior Olympic team in 1998
• Was the first high school pitcher in Florida history to strike out 400 batters in a season, which she did twice
Jenny began her college career at the University of Arizona where she was a member of two College World Series teams, helping the Wildcats win the national title in 2001.
As a freshman at Arizona she was a member of the NCAA Women's College World Series Championship team. In her freshman season she compiled a pitching record of 14-2 with a 0.92 ERA. She played in 33 games with 17 starts in the circle and as a designated player. Jenny threw her first career no-hitter in five innings against Indiana State in March, and then two days later threw another in seven innings against Creighton. On the year she struck out 148 batters and only allowed 47 hits. Jenny struck out a team season-high 15 batters in a 4-2 NCAA tournament victory over St. Peters and led the team with 10.5 strikeouts per seven innings pitched.
As a sophomore she was a member of the national runner-up squad. She was named to the NFCA Region 11 team, earned Honorable mention All-Pac 10. Her pitching stats were a 1.88 ERA, a 21-6 record, starting 28 games as a pitcher and finished the season with 24 complete games and seven shut outs. Jenny also struck out 210 batters while only walking 84 in 163.2 innings of work; she had double figures in strikeouts five times.
Jenny transferred to the University of Florida in 2003 and rewrote the Florida pitching record book, setting career records for opponent batting average, strikeouts per game and strikeouts looking. She finished her career just 35 strikeouts short of the school record. She also set several single-season records, including earned run average, opponent batting average, and strikeouts per game, win percentage, strikeouts and strikeouts looking. She earned All-Southeastern Conference Honors in 2003 and 2004 and All-Pac 10 honors in 2002. Jenny earned NFCA All-Region honors both her sophomore season at Arizona and her junior season at Florida.
Jenny graduated from The University of Florida with a degree in criminology in 2004. After finishing her career at Florida she was a 1st round selection of the New Jersey Juggernauts of the Women's Professional League.
She began her coaching career as a private instructor in Orlando. In 2005 she accepted her first collegiate coaching position as the head coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach. While coaching at PBA she had four players named to the NCCAA All-Region team in 2006.
Jennifer left PBA in 2006, accepting an assistant coaching position at the University of Florida where she coached from 2006-2012. Jennifer was a vital member of the Florida Gator softball coaching staff that was tabbed Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2011. Gladding's career at Florida was highlighted by her induction into the University of Florida Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2013 she was hired as the assistant coach of the Pro League Florida Pride. While with the Pride the team won the Cowles Cup in 2013 and 2014.
In May of 2013 she became the USSSA, National Director of Futures Programs.
Jenny lives in Palm City with her husband Blake Denischuk and their two children. Blake is the brother of former IRSC All-American Melanie Denischuk.