PHILADELPHIA- The University of Pennsylvania's new head softball coach, Christine Novatin, has announced the hiring of Christina Biggerstaff as an assistant coach.

Biggerstaff comes to Philadelphia after coaching at the John Cooper School from 2022-23, as well starting her own business and creating MBM Pitching where she coached young pitchers 7-18 years old from 2021-23.

Biggerstaff previously served as the pitching coach at Charleston Southern University from the fall of 2019 through 2021. During the abbreviated 2020 season, she helped the pitching staff accomplish pitcher of the week honors, and the Bucs' pitching staff owned a 3.61 cumulative ERA with 95 strikeouts in 127 innings of work.

"I am thrilled to welcome Christina to Penn and the Quaker family," said Novatin, who was hired as the program's fourth head coach in June. "Christina has played for highly competitive programs and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to our pitchers. I have no doubt in my mind that she will help generate a successful pitching staff through her work ethic and winning mindset. I cannot wait to see all that she will help us accomplish this upcoming year."

"I am definitely super grateful and excited to get this opportunity to be at Penn," said Biggerstaff.  "When Christie first called me, I was a little hesitant being so far away from my family and my pitching girls. It was important to me if I was going to move that far away to love who I was around. After coming to campus and meeting Christie, Kristin and Lo, I really felt like they were people who I could call my family and have felt that way ever since. From the moment I started working here, the players, coaching staff and everyone on campus have been so welcoming and kind! I am excited to see what we accomplish this upcoming season."

Biggerstaff played her college softball at Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and USC Upstate where she pitched 407.2 innings over her last two seasons. In her senior year as a Spartan in 2019, Biggerstaff earned second-team All-Region, Big South Pitcher of the Year, and went a Big South-best 26-6 with a 1.24 ERA and 268 strikeouts in 197.2 innings pitched. A seven-time Big South Pitcher of the Week honoree, Biggerstaff tossed three no-hitters—including a perfect game against East Tennessee State—and completed 24 of her 31 starts. The national leader with 13 shutouts, she struck out at least 10 batters in a game eight times including a career-high 16 against Youngstown State.

In 2018, Biggerstaff's honors included second-team ASUN All-Conference and 2018 ASUN All-Tournament Team, as she started 28 games and made 34 appearances in the circle. She posted an 18-10 record with a 2.03 ERA, limiting opponents to a .184 batting average and striking out 229 batters while walking just 84. Biggerstaff led the team in wins, strikeouts and ERA, tied for first in wins in the ASUN, and led the conference in strikeouts.

Prior to USC Upstate, Biggerstaff played one season each at Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech, before transferring to Upstate from Oklahoma State. As a sophomore at OSU, Biggerstaff went 3-0 in 17 appearances and five starts, pitching 44.1 innings. She also was a Big 12 All-Academic selection. Biggerstaff made 28 appearances as a freshman at Georgia Tech, with 12 starts and six complete games. She totaled 95.2 innings of work, with 139 strikeouts, and threw no-hitters on back-to-back days against Mount St. Mary's and Savannah State.  

After her playing career, Biggerstaff signed a contract to play in the Golden League with Hoofddorp Pioniers in Amsterdam, the Netherlands for one season. In her debut year she led the team in strikeouts, wins and ERA.

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