Jordyn Rudd-Lee returned to Northwestern to join the Wildcats' Softball staff as an assistant coach in August of 2026.
A four-time All-Big Ten honoree, Rudd-Lee played in every game of her collegiate career as a catcher at Northwestern (2019-2023). In addition to helping lead Northwestern to the Women’s College World Series in 2022, she also became the first-ever recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award at catcher while also being named the National Defensive Player of the Year by Softball America and earning the 2022 Johnny Bench Award, presented to the best female catcher in the nation.
"Jordyn is a fierce competitor who knows how to win at Northwestern, and our entire community is thrilled to have her back in our dugout,” Kate Drohan said. “She understands firsthand the unique environment Northwestern provides student-athletes, and I'm inspired by her passion to deliver on that promise for the next generation."
During her Northwestern career, Rudd-Lee became the first catcher in Big Ten history to earn First Team All-Conference honors in each of her first three seasons (2019, 2021, 2022). She closed her career with a .332 batting average, 247 hits, 50 doubles, 243 games played, 397 total bases and 202 RBI – all of which rank Top-5 all-time in program history.
“Northwestern Softball gave me so much as a player, and I'm grateful for the chance to give back to it now as a coach,” Rudd-Lee said. “Coming home to work alongside Kate and Caryl, with this group of talented student-athletes, is exactly where I want to be. I've seen firsthand what makes this place remarkable, and I can't wait to get to work. GO ‘CATS!”
Following her collegiate career, Rudd-Lee spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Purdue, where the Boilermakers increased their win total in every season. In 2026, the Boilermakers set 11 team program records, 10 of which were in offensive categories, and seven individual records under Rudd-Lee's guidance. She oversaw Moriah Polar, who led the nation in both hits and batting average en route to becoming a NFCA All-American.
In addition to coaching, Rudd-Lee has spent the past four seasons playing professional softball. She was one of 14 players selected in the 2023 Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball College Draft, and was drafted No. 24 overall by the USSSA Pride in the 2023 Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) Draft. After playing in the WPF during her rookie season, Rudd-Lee made her Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball debut in 2024 and earned a Top-15 finish in the league standings. This past 2026 season, she played for the AUSL’s Carolina Blaze before announcing her retirement in July.
Rudd earned a bachelors degree in Political Science at Northwestern, along with a minor in Business Institutions and a master’s degree in Business Administration. She married her husband, Zach, in the summer of 2023.