LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego head softball coach Nikki Palmer has announced the addition of former Triton standout Shelby Thompson as the program's pitching coach.

A UC San Diego alumna, Thompson returns to La Jolla after spending the past two seasons on the coaching staff at Utah State, where she most recently served as interim head coach following nearly two years as an assistant coach.

"We're thrilled to welcome Shelby back to UC San Diego," said Palmer. "It means so much to me, bringing an alumna home, but more importantly, the job she did while having to manage an opportunity that she didn't sign up for at Utah State was beyond impressive. We look forward to all the knowledge and skills she gained in the past few years over there, applying them to our very, very talented pitching staff. Big things are in the future for her and our program."

During her time at Utah State, Thompson helped guide the Aggies to their first Mountain West Tournament appearance since 2011 and assisted in recruiting nationally recognized talent, including Division I Top 100 recruits in consecutive recruiting classes. She also helped develop multiple all-conference selections and played a key role in the growth of the program's pitching staff. In March 2026, Thompson stepped into the role of interim head coach, overseeing all aspects of the Division I program while leading the team through the remainder of the season.

Prior to her collegiate coaching career, Thompson worked as a pitching instructor in San Diego, providing individualized instruction and helping athletes improve their mechanics, confidence and overall performance.

As a scholar-athlete at UC San Diego from 2020-24, Thompson established herself as a leader within the Triton program while earning her bachelor's degree in International Business.

"UC San Diego will always feel like home," Thompson said. "This place has been a huge part of shaping the coach and person I am today, and it's an incredible privilege to return and pass that same investment forward to the next generation of Triton softball. I'm grateful for the trust placed in me and excited to help our athletes become the best versions of themselves on and off the field while competing at the highest level and contributing to a culture that shaped some of the most meaningful years of my life."

Thompson rejoins the Tritons as the program continues to build on its recent success and will oversee the development of a talented pitching staff entering the 2027 season. Her familiarity with UC San Diego, combined with valuable Division I coaching experience, makes her a strong addition to Palmer's staff as the Tritons prepare for the upcoming season.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II.