Jeanne Scarpello will continue to build the Omaha softball program into a formidable Division I program in her 16th season as head coach in 2014-15. Scarpello enters the season as UNO's all-time winningest coach with a 632-204-1 career record. Her .756 winning percentage is the best in school history and ranks 25th in NCAA softball history across all divisions. Among active coaches, Scarpello owns the No. 6 winning percentage, and her mark was the best among any coach currently at a Division I institution.
Scarpello notched her 600th career win on Feb. 7, 2014 in a 7-0 win over Weber State. She became the first UNO coach in any sport to achieve 600 wins at the school. The Mavs went on to post a 33-16 overall record and 12-6 mark in the Summit League.
The Mavericks announced their transition from Division II to Division I in March 2011 and have completed three Division I seasons so far. In 2013, UNO played its first year in the Summit League and finished 36-7 overall and 14-3 in league play, good for a second-place finish in the conference standings. The Mavs' .837 winning percentage in 2013 was the second best in school history, behind only the 2001 Division II national championship team, Scarpello's second team at UNO. Omaha's seven losses were the fewest since six in 2001 and marked the second-lowest total in school history when playing 30 or more games in a season.
Scarpello helped UNO reach 12 consecutive NCAA Division II Tournaments from 2000-11, part of 22 straight NCAA Tournament appearances for the Mavs. She has led the Mavs to three 50-win seasons and nine 40-win seasons in her time at UNO, including the national championship in 2001.
The Mavericks won the MIAA Conference Tournament in 2011 after sharing the regular season title with Emporia State and Missouri Western with 18-4 conference records. UNO rolled through the conference tournament with a perfect 4-0 record and made it to the NCAA South Central Region 2 championship round before falling twice to West Texas A&M. The Mavs' 47-11 record marked the fourth straight season of more than 43 wins and helped Scarpello earn MIAA Co-Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season.
Scarpello became UNO's all-time winningest coach when UNO got its 18th win of the season against Missouri Southern on March 28, 2010. The 460th win of her career moved her past her predecessor, Mary Yori, who accumulated a 459-158 (.744) record in 11 seasons (1989-99).
Scarpello has accumulated an enviable list of accomplishments during her tenure. Her resume includes 12 straight trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, five conference tournament titles and the 2001 Division II National Championship.
The Scarpello era for the Maverick softball program began in 2000 when she replaced Yori, who guided the Mavericks to four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and four North Central Conference titles in her 11 years as the Mavericks’ mentor.
In 2001, Scarpello and her staff were named the NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding the Mavericks to a 54-6 record and the program’s first NCAA national championship. In addition, Scarpello was named the 2001 North Central Conference Coach of the Year after guiding UNO to its second consecutive NCC title.
Scarpello has coached eight All-Americans - including two-time All-Americans Leslie Svoboda and Lindsey Slocum - three CoSida Academic All-Americans, 81 all-conference selections and 14 academic all-conference selections.
An assistant softball coach for the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1997-1999, Scarpello helped guide the NCAA Division I Flames to a 67-17 record and a top-10 national ranking in 1999. The 1999 Flames advanced to the NCAA Tournament and in the process, tied the NCAA Division I national record for most wins in a season.
In addition to her coaching duties at UIC, Scarpello served as the athletic department’s academic advisor, and as a kinesiology lecturer and physical activities instructor at the school.
A 1996 graduate of Augustana (S.D.), Scarpello was a four-time All-North Central Conference honoree and two time All-Midwest Region performer for the Vikings. She led Augustana to the NCC championship in 1992 and 1993, as well as a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 1993. In 2001, Scarpello was inducted into the Augustana Hall of Fame as a coach, and in 2010, she was inducted as an athlete.
A native of Mankato, Minn., Scarpello was inducted into the Mankato East High School Hall of Fame in 2007.
Scarpello earned her master’s degree in sports management at UIC in 1998. In addition to her coaching duties, Scarpello is also an instructor in UNO’s school of Health Physical Education and Recreation (HPER).
She was married in August 2005, to Tom Scarpello of Omaha.
Scarpello's Honors and Awards
2011 MIAA Co-Coach of the Year
2011 MIAA Tournament Champions
2011 MIAA Regular Season Co-Champions
2010 Augustana College Hall of Fame Inductee (Athlete)
2010 MIAA Co-Coach of the Year
2010 MIAA Regular Season Co-Champions
2008 NCC Co-Coach of the Year
2008 NCC Tournament Champions
2008 NCC Regular Season Champions
2007 NFCA North Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year
2007 NCAA Division II National Tournament Qualifier
2007 NCC Tournament Champions
2006 NCC Coach of the Year
2005 NCC Tournament Champions
2005 NCC Regular Season Champions
2004 NCC Coach of the Year
2001 Augustana College Hall of Fame Inductee (Coach)
2001 NCAA Division II National Champions
2001 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year
2001 NFCA North Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year
2001 NCC Coach of the Year
2001 NCC Tournament Champions
2001 NCC Regular Season Champions
2000 NCC Tournament Champions
2000 NCC Regular Season Champions
