Former Drake University pitching standout Jenna DeLong joined the UT Dallas coaching staff on January 1, 2012. She will serve as the Assistant Softball/Pitching Coach and Head Women's Cross Country Coach,
DeLong, a native of Dalton Gardens, Idaho, was a four-year starter in the circle for Drake and left the Bulldogs as the program's all-time strikeout leader. A three-time first team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, DeLong was named the MVC's Pitcher of the Year as a senior after going 21-8 with a 1.89 earned run average and 228 strikeouts. She also led the Bulldogs with 10 home runs as a senior and was named second team all-region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). DeLong finished her career with 64 victories, ranking second on Drake's all-time list.
DeLong was also a three-time MVC Scholar-Athlete first team selection during her career with the Bulldogs, graduating with a 3.68 grade point average with a bachelor's degree in English and journalism. DeLong was a two-time NFCA All-American Academic Award honoree.
Upon graduation from Drake in May 2011, DeLong spent last summer playing professionally in The Netherlands. She helped guide the Tex Town Tigers to the European Cup Championship and was named her team's Most Valuable Player. She also served as the franchise's head coach and pitching coach of its second team, ages 15-23. In addition, she was the pitching coach of TTT's national championship junior team, ages 13-15.
As a prep at Coeur d'Alene High School in Idaho, DeLong helped guide her team to back-to-back State 5A Championships and was named Inland Empire League MVP and Team MVP her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. As a senior, she was named the Idaho Spokesman-Review Female Athlete of the Year.
