CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard softball program held a head coaches panel in March, featuring current head coach Jenny Allard and former head coaches Kit Morris, John Wentzell and Barry Haskell. The group gathered with Senior Associate Director of Athletics Gerrie Mahoney and former Senior Associate Director of Athletics Pat Henry to discuss the history of the program, as Harvard Softball celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2021.
 
Earning varsity status in 1981, Kit Morris was appointed the first head coach in program history. Morris led the Crimson to a 14-5 overall record with a 3-2 Ivy League mark in her first year. Harvard finished third in the Ivy League standings in its inaugural season, while Morris coached one First Team All-Ivy League and three Honorable Mention selections.
 
John Wentzell took the helm in 1982, coaching the next seven seasons. Under Wentzell's direction, the Crimson posted an 84-57 overall record. Additionally, Harvard finished in the top three of the Ivy League standings three times during Wentzell's time as head coach. He finished his career having coached 13 All-Ivy League First Team, 15 Second Team and one Honorable Mention honorees.
 
The number of games that the Crimson played increased dramatically in 1989 with the appointment of Barry Haskell as head coach of the program. Haskell guided Harvard to a 16-15 overall record in his first season, finishing second in the Ivy League standings. Leading the way through the 1994 season, Haskell concluded his career with a 105-118-1 overall mark. Haskell coached the program's first Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 1989 (Julia Fromholz '92) and Player of the Year in 1991 (Beth Reilly '91), while his student-athletes garnered 10 All-Ivy First Team, seven Second Team, and five Honorable Mention recognitions.
 
Jenny Allard took the reigns in 1995, becoming just the fourth coach in the history of the program. Currently in her 26th year at the helm, Allard has led the Crimson to unprecedented success. As the Ivy League's longest-tenured coach and winningest softball coach, Allard has garnered a 637-481-3 overall record and 311-119-1 conference mark during her career. Under Allard's leadership, the Crimson has claimed eight Ivy League championship titles, six 30-win seasons and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. In addition to producing 72 All-Ivy League First Team, 69 Second Team and 46 Honorable Mention honorees, Allard has coached seven Ivy League Players of the Year, eight Pitchers of the Year and six Rookies of the Year.