In four seasons at the helm of the IUPUI softball program, head coach Amanda Rivera has turned in some of the most successful years ever logged in program history. Rivera currently holds a 95-108 record (77-77 over past three seasons), ranking third all-time in wins at IUPUI. Under her leadership, Rivera has turned out 12 All-Summit League selections, 10 Summit League Player of the Week selections, eight Summit League All-Tournament selections, two NFCA All-Region selections, and four Academic All-Summit League selections.
Following the completion of the 2016 season, the Jaguars recorded their best finish ever at the Summit League Tournament, going a combined 3-2 while making it to their first-ever Championship game. Carrying the sixth-seed into the tournament, the Jaguars defied all odds by becoming the first team in the Summit League since 1994 to make the finale as the sixth-seed. During their showing at the tournament, IUPUI picked up victories over third-seeded Western Illinois (May 11), fourth-seeded South Dakota (May 12) and second-seeded Omaha (May 13). Prior to her arrival, IUPUI had never won a game at the Summit League Tournament. They've now won seven. The team finished with its third 20-win season in the past three years, going 20-35. The season produced one First-Team All-Summit League selection in Ali Mosier, as well as two Second-Team All-Summit League selections in Roni Patterson and Taylor Chitwood. The season also saw the Jaguars pick up three Pitcher of the Week awards, with two going to senior Brooke Boetjer and one going to freshman Kaitlynn Moody. The pitching staff finished with a second-best 4.10 ERA in the Summit League, dropping that number to 3.77 against Summit League opponents. They also logged a League second-best .276 batting average against. Demonstrating a thorough understanding of situational ball, Rivera intelligently led her hitters in a positive direction, leading the League with only one batter hitting into a double play.
In 2015, Rivera's third season as head coach, IUPUI won a Division-I era school-record 33 games and six Jaguars were named All-Summit League performers. The Jaguars bested the previous year's school-record of 48 home runs by hitting 58 in 2013, highlighted by Ali Mosier's single-season school record 14 homers. While the offensive production has drastically improved since Rivera's arrival, 2013 was the year in which the Jags pitching staff stole the show. Behind Brooke Boetjer's school-record 20 wins, which ranked 44th nationally, and Emili Escamilla, the Jags posted a 2.55 ERA to finish 32nd in the country at season's end. IUPUI also finished the campaign ranked int he Top 50 in the nation in doubles per game (44th, 1.49), home runs per game (36th, 1.12) and stolen bases per game (38th, 1.47).
In her second year at the helm of the Jags, IUPUI finished second in the conference and in the Top 70 nationally in batting average with a .298 average, which also was a new single-season D-I era school-record. Under Rivera's guidance, the Jags also set a then-record for home runs in a season with 48, while finishing in the program's all-time Top 10 in doubles (66), slugging percentage (.474) and stolen bases (66).
Rivera's success is partially attributed to her ability to recruit and develop players. Since taking over the program, she has coached seven All-Summit League players, including a program-best six in 2015. Rivera has also been instrumental in Roni Patterson being twice named a NFCA Third-Team All-Region selection.
Prior to taking over the IUPUI program, Rivera was in her second stint as a volunteer assistant at Northwestern. Prior to her time with the Wildcats, she served as an assistant coach at both Indiana and North Carolina State and a volunteer assistant at her alma mater, Illinois-Chicago.
Rivera first was part of the Wildcats coaching staff in 2006 and 2007, which was named the National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2006, after leading the team to a Big Ten Championship and a National Runner-Up finish. A year later, Northwestern returned to the Women’s College World Series finishing third thanks in part to Big Ten Player of the Year, Garland Cooper. Rivera helped Cooper set single-season and career home run records at Northwestern en route to being named the league’s only three-time player of the year.
Following her first stint in Evanston, Ill., Rivera spent the 2008 season as an assistant at North Carolina State, before moving to nearby Indiana University for the 2009 season.
With the Wolfpack, Rivera concentrated on hitting and fielding instruction, in particular the outfielders. She was also a key component in the day-to-day operations of the Wolfpack program and directed all of the softball camps and clinics.
In three seasons in Bloomington, Rivera served as the recruiting coordinator in addition to her on-field coaching and player development responsibilities. During her final season, the Hoosiers posted a 37-18 overall mark and 17-3 Big Ten record in 2011 as Indiana made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.
Rivera played collegiately at UIC from 2001-04 and cemented her name in the Flames record books. She remains the programs career leader in home runs (52), while ranking second in career RBI (193) and walks (125).
In 2004, she set several single-season school records including home runs (20) and RBI (64) en route to earning All-America, Horizon League Player of the Year and Horizon League Tournament MVP honors.
Two years earlier, Rivera was named Horizon League Tournament MVP for the first time in her career and additionally was a four-year All-Great Lakes Region selection and the Horizon League Rookie of the Year selection in 2001.
Upon her graduation from UIC with a degree in Movement Science in 2005, she immediately moved into the role of volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, while also continuing her duties as a private hitting instructor in Chicago. She also was the head coach for the Oak Park Windmills from 2002-2007 and an assistant coach for the Southern California Blazers Gold in 2001.
