Danielle O'Toole enters her first season as an assistant coach with San Diego softball in 2017-18.
O'Toole, a member of the U.S. National Team and National Professional Fastpitch's Chicago Bandits, will primarily be responsible for handling the pitching staff among other responsibilities.
"Danielle is one of the best pitchers in the world and she continues to reach new heights in her playing career," said McElvain. "As a member of Team USA, and professionally on the Chicago Bandits, she is an incredibly positive role model in our sport."
O'Toole was selected to Team USA this past January and helped lead the team to a gold medal at the Pan American Championship and a silver medal at the World Cup of Softball. She went 2-0 with a 2.80 ERA in 15 innings at the Pan American Championship and led Team USA with 15 innings pitched and a 0.47 ERA at the World Cup of Softball.
"I'm happy and excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this program," said O'Toole. "I look forward to working with the athletes and bringing out not only the best players but the best people. It's going to be a fun year and I'm excited to learn and exchange knowledge with the other coaches. Coach McElvain has done a great job building this program and I'm looking forward to contributing to it."
O'Toole boasts a lengthy resume of softball and academic accomplishments during her collegiate career at Arizona and San Diego State. She earned NFCA All-America first team honors in 2017 and was a three-time NFCA All-West Region selection.
Named the 2017 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, O'Toole was named one of 10 finalists for the USA Softball Player of the Year award. She was a two-time All-Pac-12 first team selection and a two-time All-Mountain West honoree. O'Toole earned Mountain West Pitcher of the Year honors in 2014 and Mountain West Freshman of the Year recognition in 2013.
"She has a remarkably high softball IQ and will bring a wealth of knowledge to our pitching staff," said McElvain. "Danielle is innately competitive, hard-working and driven. These attributes will translate to coaching and lead to success as a collegiate pitching coach."
O'Toole excelled in the classroom and was named a 2017 Pac-12 All-Academic selection. She graduated in the spring of 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Care, Health and Society.
O'Toole had an outstanding senior season at Arizona during 2017 and helped lead her team to an NCAA Super Regional appearance. She led the Pac-12 and finished ninth in the NCAA with a 1.21 ERA and was fifth in the NCAA with 30 victories -- the 19th Arizona pitcher in program history to post 30 wins in a season.
