Bowling Green Appoints Penny Reece as New Lady Purples Softball Head Coach

Bowling Green, KY – Penny Reece, the esteemed former Grayson County head coach and inductee of the Kentucky Prep Softball Hall of Fame, has been named the new head coach for the Bowling Green Lady Purples Softball program. Reece is fully geared up for the formidable challenge of revitalizing the program and is thrilled to be back in Bowling Green after years of observing the team with keen interest.

Reece Sets Her Sights on Constructing a Strong Team

Throughout her time watching the Lady Purples in action, Reece noticed some room for improvement and tweaks that could translate to enhanced team performance. “As I’ve watched these kids, I noticed some fundamental stuff, minor adjustments here and there, can be done to make this a good team,” Reece explained.

Reece had been asked why she would choose to return and compete in one of the toughest districts in all of Kentucky. “That’s what I love and that’s what I miss from my time at Greenwood. The high level of competition captivates me and drives me every single night,” she asserted.

A Bright Career

Before her new endeavor, Reece had an illustrious coaching past that included roles with the Greenwood Lady Gators between 1995 and 2014, and Meade County from 2018 to 2021, before heading to coach Grayson County. With a staggering 724 total wins, Reece stands as the second all-time winningest coach in Kentucky softball history.

Her coaching roster boasts 18 district titles, 11 regional titles, and three state championships. Notably, her Greenwood squad achieved the first-ever undefeated season in KHSAA Softball history in 2013.

Building New Blocks

Reece is incredibly enthusiastic about the upcoming offseason in which she will work with both the middle school and high school Lady Purples. She is already thrilled by how much the girls are eager to get to work.

“I’m excited because of the girls’ enthusiasm. They want that recognition. They crave walking around with that Bowling Green shirt on and feeling proud about it,” Reece said.

Reece steps in to transform a Lady Purples high school team that has seen three straight losing seasons, including a 7-20-1 mark in 2024.

An Offseason Boost

The new head coach shared her plans for the offseason. “We’re going to get to work to understand where we stand fundamentally. There’s a lot of assessments required to identify what we need to work on—our pitching, our defense, our hitting. The offseason is a time for understanding our girls’ best position-wise, while recognizing that softball players are made in the offseason.”

Reece’s appointment signals a new era in the Bowling Green Lady Purples Softball program. Her experience, combined with her drive for success, bodes well for an exciting journey ahead for the team.