Bredbenner is entering her third season as the head coach at Emporia State. She was the 2007 MIAA Softball Coach of the Year after sweeping the conference regular season and postseason championships for the second straight year under her guidance. In her first two years, the Hornets have won their third straight MIAA regular season crown and fourth straight conference tournament titles.

In 2006 Bredbenner led the Hornets to the NCAA Division II National Championship game. Her squad finished with a record of 62-7 which set the MIAA record for wins in a season. Bredbenner and her staff were named the NCFA/Speedline Coaching Staff of the Year.

Before coming to ESU Bredbenner spent three seasons as the top assistant at UC-Santa Barbara. Working with players in all aspects of the game, she played an instrumental role in guiding the Gauchos to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004 and a second place finish in the tough Big West Conference--the highest finish in UCSB history.

She was the interim head coach at her alma mater, Truman State
University, during the 2002 season. The Bulldogs went 31-19, won the MIAA Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament under her guidance.

“Kristi is a high energy person and has a great knowledge of the game,” said ESU Athletic Director Kent Weiser. “She really showed her leadership qualities taking over the Truman program one year removed from playing.”

As a player, Bredbenner was a four-time All-MIAA pick, two-time Division II All-American and was named MVP of the conference in 2000. In her four years at Truman she claimed nearly every hitting record, including career and single season records for games played, at bats, hits, doubles, home runs, total bases, RBI's, walks, batting average, and slugging percentage. Her three home run day against the Hornets on April 7, 2000 is tied for fourth all-time on the Division II single game list.

The O’Fallon, Mo. native graduated from Truman in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in business/marketing and received her master’s degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University.

“Emporia State University has a great tradition in athletics,” says
Bredbenner, “It’s exciting to part of a program with tremendous support from the fans and community.”

Kristi Bredbenner, Head Coaching Statistics
Year School W L Pct.
2002 TSU 31 19 .620
2006 ESU 62 7 .899
2007 ESU 50 12 .824
Career Totals 143 38 .794
2007 MIAA Coach of the Year
2006 NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year

Kristi Bredbenner Playing Career Truman State University: 1998-2001
Two-Time All-American
2001 All-American Third Team
2000 All-American First Team
2000 MIAA Most Valuable Player
Four-Time All-MIAA Selection
2001 All-MIAA First Team
2000 All-MIAA First Team
1999 All-MIAA Second Team
1998 All-MIAA Second Team

Education
B.S. Truman State University 2001
M.S. Azusa Pacific University 2005