Hope Trautwein-Valdespino , a member of the 2022 Women's College World Series All-Tournament team, enters her first season as a McNeese assistant coach after spending two years on the Houston staff. She will serve as the Cowgirls' pitching coach and scouting director.
Â
Trautwein-Valdespino , who helped Oklahoma to a National Championship in 2022 after a decorated four-year stint with North Texas, finished her collegiate career with an 82-25 record, 14 saves, a 1.82 ERA and 850 strikeouts. She helped lead the way for the Sooners at the 2022 Women's College World Series, posting a 4-0 record and throwing 22.1 innings with a 2.51 ERA, allowing only 12 hits and striking out 16. The stellar performance in the postseason capped a 22-1 season in the circle for the super-senior, as she spun a 0.77 ERA with nine shutouts, striking out 157 with a .121 batting average against.Â
Â
In 2021 with North Texas, Trautwein-Valdespino made history, becoming the first NCAA Division I softball player to toss a seven-inning perfect game, striking out all 21 batters. She finished her time at North Texas as the team's leader in career ERA (2.05), wins (61), saves (15), batting average against (.197) and strikeouts per seven innings (8.11).Â
Â
In total across five seasons, she threw four solo no-hitters, a solo perfect game, a combined no-hitter and a combined perfect game. She was also a four-time All-Conference selection, including a 2022 All-Big 12 First Team honor, and was the 2021 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year.Â
Â
The Pflugerville, Texas, native brings additional professional experience to the McNeese staff. Trautwein-Valdespino played for the USSSA Pride in the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) league after signing with the team for the 2022 exhibition season. She spent to 2024 season with Athletes Unlimited AUX and is a member of the 2025 AUSL Blaze.Â
Following her collegiate playing career, Trautwein-Valdespino spent the 2023 season as a graduate assistant under Oklahoma Softball Head Coach Patty Gasso.
Â
Trautwein-Valdespino played prep softball for Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville. She graduated from North Texas with a bachelor's degree in accounting and received a Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma.Â
COACHING CAREER
2024-2025Â Â Houston (Assistant Coach)
2023Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oklahoma (Graduate Assistant)
PLAYING CAREER
2022 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oklahoma
2018-2021Â Â North Texas
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
AUSL Blaze (2025)
Athletes Unlimited AUX (2024)
Women's Professional Fastpitch League (WPF/2022) with USSSA Pride
CAREER HONORS (at Oklahoma)
• Women's College World Series (2022)
• WCWS All-Tournament Team (2022)
• All-Big 12 (First Team/2022)
CAREER HONORS (at North Texas)
• North Texas Career Leader in ERA (2.05), Wins (61), Saves (15), Lowest Opponent Batting Average (.197) and Strikeouts / 7 IP (8.11).
• North Texas and Conference USA Single-Game Strikeout Record Holder (21, 3x MR on 4/11/21)
• Second Most Career Strikeouts (693) in Program History
• Fifth-Most Career Starts (68) and Innings Pitched (469.0) in Program History
• Fourth-Most Career Complete Games in Program History (40)
• Lowest Single Season Opponent Batting Average in Program History (.187 in 2019)
• Most Saves in a Single Season (4 in 2019)
• T-Most Wins in a Single Season (22 in 2019)
• Second-Best Single Season ERA (2.19 in 2019)
• Third Most Innings Pitched in a Single Season (204.1 in 2019)
• Third and Fourth Most Strikeouts in a Single Season (169 in 2019 and 168 in 2018)
• Fourth Most Strikeouts Per 7 IP in a Single Season (5.79 in 2019)
• T-4th Most Appearances in a Single Season (44 in 2019)
• One Career Perfect Game (4/11/21)
• Two Career No-Hitters (4/3/19 and 4/7/18)
• Conference USA Pitcher of the Year (2021)
• First Team All-Conference (2019, 2021)
• First Team NFCA All-South Region (2021)
• Conference USA All-Academic (2021)Â
• Second Team All-Conference and All-Freshman Team Selection (2018)
• Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal Recipient (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
• Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
Â
