GREENVILLE, Pa. (Dec. 2) -- Thiel College head softball coach
Michael Kernan announced the hiring of
Destiny Goodnight as assistant coach Tuesday morning.
Goodnight was a four-time All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) honoree at Bethany College, earning First-Team laurels in 2025 while making the Second Team in 2022 and 2024 along with the Honorable Mention squad in 2023.
"Thiel Softball is very excited and fortunate to add a mentor of Destiny's caliber to our staff," Kernan, who enters his first year in 2026, said. "Destiny brings a wealth of successful NCAA DIII collegiate playing experience that will be a great asset in enhancing the Tomcat student-athlete developmental, playing experience and team chemistry."
Goodnight is the Bethany career record holder in runs (135) and stolen bases (92). Her marks in career batting average (.386) and hits (188) are fourth most in program history while her nine career triples are tied for fifth most in Bison lore. Goodnight set the Bethany single-season record with 33 stolen bases last season, breaking her previous record of 29 set in 2024. She was instrumental in helping Bethany reach the PAC Championship Tournament in each of the last two seasons and in 3 of her 4 years with the program.
"This is a tremendous opportunity, and I'm grateful for the trust that Coach Kernan and the administration have placed in me," Goodnight said. "I look forward to helping our student-athletes grow on and off the field and by bringing continued success to Thiel Softball."
In addition to excelling on the diamond, Goodnight was a three time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District pick as well as an Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete for the Bison.
Prior to her collegiate success, Goodnight starred for Coach Kernan at Ursuline High School in Youngstown, Ohio. She was named First Team All-Ohio and First Team All-Northeastern Ohio her senior year in 2019 as she set Ohio High School Coaches Athletic Association and Ursuline single-season records for her marks in batting average (.657), hits (62) and consecutive base hits (13).
Thiel posted an 18-18 record in 2025 and was one of the final four teams standing after winning a pair of games in the PAC Championship Tournament. The Tomcats will open the 2026 campaign in early March at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. against a slate of teams to be determined.
