Dedeann Pendleton-Helm - Softball Coach - Colorado State Athletics

Dedeann Pendleton-Helm

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
dedeann.pendleton@colostate.edu
Phone:
(970) 491-6000

Dedeann Pendleton-Helm rejoined Colorado State staff in 2006 as assistant coach after once being in the same role at CSU for four seasons, from 1995-98. On the diamond, Pendleton-Helm is responsible for the battery and overseeing the development of the Rams' pitchers while her administrative duties include acting as the scheduling and scouting coordinator, as well as fundraising, alumni relations, equipment, recruiting and team travel.

During her time at CSU, Pendleton-Helm has coached the three winningest pitchers in school history, and CSU's all-time saves leader. Additionally, she tutored Kelli Eubanks, who ranks second in school history with 360 strikeouts, and Kacie McCarthy, the 2012 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year.

More recently, Pendleton-Helm tutored Holly Reinke, who wound up third all-time in strikeouts at CSU and second in wins after her four seasons at CSU (2013-16). She also coached Bridgette Hutton who finished third-all time in wins with 45 and sixth in strikeouts with 331. Hutton also tossed the Rams last no hitter on Feb. 28, 2019 against Idaho State.

In 2019, Colorado State had its most successful season since the turn of the century. The Rams posted a 39-12 overall record, their third most wins in a season backed behind a 2.57 ERA and the second highest batting average in program history (.321). CSU made its return to the NCAA Tournament for just the third time and was ranked in both National Polls as high has No. 23. Colorado State posted a 20-game winning streak during the season on its way to winning its second Mountain West Championship with a 18-6 record.

Bridgette Hutton was named second team All-Mountain West, while also picking up NFCA All-Pacific third team honors. Hutton recorded 16 wins in 31 starts during the year.

In 2014, CSU went 32-17, the most wins since 2004 and the seventh-best winning percentage in program history. The team ranked in the top-five all-time for several statistical categories, including runs, batting average and fielding percentage.

Reinke was named to the NFCA All-Pacific Region third team and was a second-team All-Mountain West selection that season. Reinke recorded 20 wins, tied for third-most in program history and third in the MW in 2014. CSU ranked third in the conference for ERA (3.49), and was one of three teams to have two pitchers rank in the top 10 individually for ERA (Reinke and true freshman Larissa Petakoff).

Pendleton-Helm rejoined the CSU staff in 2006 after seven seasons as an assistant at Ole Miss, from 1999-2005. At Ole Miss, she worked with the outfielders, pitchers, hitters and all phases of recruiting. She tutored numerous Ole Miss players to All-Southeastern Conference honors, and helped the Rebels to the program's first winning season since its inception in 1997.

Prior to Ole Miss, Pendleton-Helm was at CSU for four seasons, from 1995-98. During her first stop in Fort Collins, she helped lead the Rams to the most successful season in program history in 1997. Working with outfielders and pitchers, she helped the Rams to the Western Athletic Conference championship, the school's highest national ranking (ninth) and a berth in the NCAA regional tournament. She coached three All-Americans in Jennifer Buford, Sarah Fredstrom and Nikki Johnson. Johnson still holds CSU's career records for innings pitched, wins, strikeouts, complete games and shutouts.

The veteran coach has also made a significant impact on the sport of fastpitch softball, having worked for Triple Crown Sports from 1996-98. During that time, she successfully developed Triple Crown's fastpitch softball division, which currently hosts the largest fastpitch softball tournament in the world each June in Colorado.

She spent her collegiate playing career at Creighton from 1991-95, serving as a pitcher and utility player. She played every position except catcher. During her career she led the Bluejays' offensive attack and ranked first in program history for hits, doubles, RBI and home runs in a season, as well as career home runs. She earned first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 1995 and second-team all-conference accolades in 1994. Pendleton-Helm also earned second-team all-region recognition in 1994 and 1995.

Pendleton-Helm graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1995 and earned her master's in education from CSU in 2016. She married her partner Dr. Heather Pendleton-Helm in 2013.