Brittany Cervantes, a former All-Southeastern Conference player at the University of Kentucky, is beginning her second season as an assistant softball coach at Loyola University Chicago. Cervantes spent the 2013 campaign as a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater.
"Brittany is a winner who has achieved success in every phase of her softball career," Loyola head coach Missy Beseres said. "During her time at Kentucky, she was instrumental in elevating the program to national prominence, and as we make the move to the Missouri Valley Conference, I am confident she can have the same effect at Loyola. Throughout her playing career, Brittany was versatile, having seen time at a number of different positions, so her breadth of knowledge will be a tremendous asset to our program."
Cervantes began her coaching career last season at Kentucky, where she helped the Wildcats to a 41-21 overall record and an appearance in the NCAA Super Regional. Along the way, Cervantes left her mark by working with a group of Wildcats hitters that hit a collective .267, while her work with sophomore Griffin Joiner helped the catcher earn Second Team All-SEC recognition.
As a utility player at Kentucky, Cervantes was one of the most accomplished position players in school history and after earning National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Second Team All-Region accolades as a junior in 2011, was a First Team All-SEC and All-SEC Defensive Team pick in 2012. The only player in UK history to hit 10 or more homers in each of her four seasons in Lexington, she set single-season school records with 55 runs scored and 48 walks in 2011, while also establishing personal bests in batting average (.329) and home runs (15). During Cervantes' career, she helped Kentucky to four NCAA Tournament berths.
The Chatsworth, Calif., native also spent the last three summers playing for the Chicago Bandits of National Professional Fastpitch. In 2014, she was named the Worth Home Run Award winner after finishing the season with a league leading 12 home runs, a professional career best.
