Kiersten Manning joined the Fighting Saints in July of 2025 as a graduate assistant coach for the softball team. The 2025-26 season will mark Manning’s first season assisting the program.
At St. Francis, Manning assists the program in coordination of practice plans, individual player development, and implementation of game strategies.
Manning began her coaching career in 2023 as an individualized personal instructor, where she helps develop tactical skills and mental strategies for children between the ages of 6-18.
A two-year member of the USF softball program (2024-25), Manning helped USF to an overall record of 50-36 (28-8 CCAC) while leading the Fighting Saints to a 2024 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship and a berth to the 2024 NAIA National Tournament. In 67 appearances in a USF uniform, Manning collected 30 wins, nine shutouts, and four saves with a 2.38 ERA in the circle while striking out a total of 354 opposing hitters. She was named to the CCAC All-Conference team twice and was also a two-time CCAC Gold Glove recipient from the pitcher’s position. In 2024, she was selected as a member of the NAIA Opening Round Williamsburg Bracket All-Tournament Team. Manning collected a total of five CCAC Pitcher of the Week awards during her two-year career, and was named USF’s team MVP for both seasons. In 2024, she was named USF’s Female Newcomer of the Year at the 2024 Bernie Awards and also received USF’s Female Performance of the Year for her 2024 authorship of a No-Hit shutout over No. 15-ranked Northwestern (IA). In 2025, she repeated as the 2025 Female Performance of the Year recipient for her school record 17 strikeouts against Concordia University (Mich.). Academically, Manning was a one-time recipient of CCAC All-Academic recognition.
In 2023, Manning graduated from Illinois Central College with an Associate of Arts degree in while being a two-year member of the Cougars’ softball program. At IIC, Manning collected a staggering 429 career strikeouts in just 174.2 innings pitched, while authoring a .370 batting average with 43 RBIs, 32 runs scored, and an on-base percentage of .397 from the plate. She received All-Region recognition and was named the Region XXIV Tournament MVP.
Upon graduation in December of 2025 with a bachelor’s degree from University of St. Francis (Ill.) in Marketing, Manning will begin work on her Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from USF, and is expected to graduate in May of 2027.
