Knight joins Golden Eagle Softball coaching staff
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Abi Knight has played at softball’s highest level and been successful. Now she’s getting the opportunity to share her expertise with the Tennessee Tech Softball team, joining Danielle Penner’s staff as an assistant coach.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Abi Knight has played at softball's highest level and been successful. Now she's getting the opportunity to share her expertise with the Tennessee Tech Softball team, joining Danielle Penner's staff as an assistant coach.
"I am super thankful to Coach Penner and the athletic department at Tennessee Tech for giving me the opportunity to continue growing this program," Knight said. "After six years of collegiate softball experience in the ACC, AAC and SEC, I could not be more excited to share my knowledge and experience with the players and help them take their game to the next level!
"My goal is to help players raise, reach, and exceed their individual expectations while getting to be a part of the great family culture that Coach Penner has created here at TTU. I'm looking forward to working closely with Coach Alli (Robinson) and Coach Penner in the upcoming season as we prepare the team for a successful year!"
Throughout her time with her previous teams, Knight had an eye on coaching. During her time at Boston College and South Carolina, she assisted with prospect and youth camps, while also running private hitting and defense lessons for youth softball players throughout her collegiate career. Knight has also served as an assistant coach with the Lady Lightning 18U National Team program.
This past season, Knight, an outfielder for the Gamecocks, was slugging, collecting a .301 batting average with 39 RBI, 11 doubles and 30 runs scored as the Gamecocks went 44-17 and reached the NCAA Super Regionals.
With a medical redshirt and the COVID extension, Knight spent her first graduate season at Charlotte, playing every game there and putting together a solid line of a .309 batting average, 51 hits, 12 doubles, a home run and 26 RBI. During the 49ers' postseason run, she was named to the American Athletic Conference all-tournament team. As Charlotte advanced to the NCAA Athens Regional, Knight earned Third-Team All-Region Honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
She spent her first four seasons in the Atlantic Coast Conference playing for Boston College. In her senior campaign, she started all 52 games and hit .294, collecting a team-high 10 doubles and 27 RBI with seven home runs and two triples. That year, she was the Eagles' team MVP and Most Valued Hitter.
Academically, Knight was a standout, named to both the AAC All-Academic Team and the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
