Jordan Gronewold wraps up her first season on the coaching staff of the UIC softball program after she joined the Flames during the summer of 2015 to serve as the team's pitching coach.
In 2016 during her first season, Gronewold helped UIC capture its second-straight Horizon League regular season championship. She coached the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year in Elaine Heflin, who posted a 19-9 (10-2 HL) record and a conference-leading 1.43 ERA. In 180.2 innings, Heflin tossed 20 complete games, six shutouts, struck out 170 and held opponents to a .198 batting average. UIC's pitching staff collectively produced a 2.26 ERA and a 2.21 mark in conference to rank as one of the best in the Horizon League.
Gronewold came to UIC after spending one season on the coaching staff at AIB College of Business, a NAIA affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa. The Eagles recorded 21 wins during their 2015 campaign and had seven student-athletes earn All-Midwest Collegiate Conference honors.
Gronewold held additional coaching experience as a pitching instructor, in which she served since 2010. She coached at the high school level in Iowa as well with stints at Urbandale in 2012 and Ballard in 2014.
A four-year starting pitcher at Drake from 2011-2014, Gronewold helped the Bulldogs amass 111 wins. She was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team twice and compiled a career record of 39-40 with a 3.29 ERA in 494.2 innings pitched. In the career record book, she ranked first in games started (121), third in pitching appearances (134), eighth in strikeouts (333) and ninth in wins (39).
As a sophomore, she set a collection of single-season records and dealt four double-digit strikeout games. She produced new high marks in games started (48) and appearances (50) for Drake, while she ranked third in wins (20), fifth in innings pitched (236.1) and seventh in strikeouts (200).
Aside from her role in the circle, Gronewold saw time at the plate. In 413 at-bats, she tallied a .247 batting average with 17 home runs and 65 RBI. Nine of her 17 homers came as a freshman, along with nine of her 24 career doubles.
Off the field, Gronewold was named to the MVC Academic Honor Roll three-consecutive seasons (2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14).
A native of Carlisle, Iowa, Gronewold earned her degree in marketing with a minor in advertising from Drake in 2014.
