Jenny Gladding, a two-year letterwinner in the pitching circle for the Gators, is in her sixth season as an assistant coach, working primarily with the infielders.  Gladding also helps with offensive decisions on the field as the Gators’ first base coach. 

Since Gladding’s arrival the Gator defense has posted the top-six fielding percentages in Florida program history, highlighted by 2009’s .977 mark.  In 2007, the team tallied a .975 percentage, in 2008, a .972 percentage and in 2010, a .970 average.  In 2009, the Gators broke the record, registering a program-high .977, while setting the record for fewest errors in a season (43).  With the defensive success, teams only managed 16 stolen bases against the Gators, another record low.  In 2010, the Gators produced only 47 errors, the second fewest in program history.

Under Gladding’s tutelage, the 2012 Gator softball squad paced the Southeastern Conference in fielding percentage (.974), while registering the second-fewest errors (44) in Florida softball history. The Gators ranked 17th in the nation in fielding percentage, just four spots below 2011’s 13th NCAA ranking. A total of seven Florida student-athletes have picked up 13 SEC All-Defensive Team accolades under Gladding’s watch the past five seasons since the award started in 2008.