Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

Traci Barrett joined the PLU softball program as an assistant prior to the 2016 season before being elevated to the head coach prior to the 2019 season. With over 150 wins as head coach, Barrett has turned the Lutes into one of the top programs in the West Region, qualifying for the Northwest Conference Tournament in each of the last four seasons.

The 2025 Lutes were one of the top power hitting teams in the nation, ranking 15th nationally in all of NCAA Division III in home runs (32) while sitting 30th nationally in fielding percentage (.970). The Lutes closed the season with a 27-15 overall mark and a 17-11 record in conference play, punching a ticket to the NWC Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

Barrett's 2024 squad closed the regular season with 13 straight wins, closing the year with a 24-19 overall record and an 18-10 mark in conference play. Under her direction, the 2023 squad finished second nationally in both home runs (52) and home runs per game (1.21), third in slugging percentage, and ninth nationally in doubles per game. The Lutes finished second in the NWC regular season standings, finishing the year 27-16 overall and 18-10 in conference action. That saeason saw four players earn All-Region honors with Kennedy Kila being named an NFCA All-American. 

Barrett guided the Lutes to a 30-14 record in 2022, advancing to the NWC Tournament Championship Game. The high-octane Lutes 30 wins was the most in program history since the 2012 National Championship winning team. PLU was an offensive juggernaut ranking fifth in the nation in total home runs (45), 11th in slugging percentage (.520), 18th in doubles per game (90), and 20th in scoring (7.0 runs per game) during the 2022 campaign. Eight players earned All-NWC accolades while Erin McGrath and Mari Foster both collected All-Region honors. 

Barrett's first season at the helm in 2019 saw the Lutes turn into one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. The Lutes scored 298 runs on the season, a whopping 126 more runs than the previous season with the Lutes' ranking 15th in the nation in runs per game (7.3) an average that topped the per game offensive production of PLU's 2012 national championship winning team. The Lutes finished the season with a 24-17 overall record and a 15-13 mark in Northwest Conference play with five student-athletes earning All-League accolades. Kathryn Hatlen was named the NWC Player of the Year and was a semifinalist for National Player of the Year while Samantha Simundson earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. 
 
Barrett was elevated to the head coach position after serving the previous three years as an assistant coach for the program. That stretch saw the Lutes win 60 games on the diamond, including a pair of wins over a team ranked in the Top 10 in 2018, while advancing to the Northwest Conference Tournament title game in 2017.
 
Barrett joined the Lutes after a successful stint coaching in the club ranks. Barrett served as an assistant coach of the Washington Lady Hawks, one of the premier club teams in the Northwest, from 2014 to 2016 and was the head coach of Northwest Speed Fastpitch from 2010 to 2014, including winning the Washington State NSA Championship in 2014. Barrett also served as the Program Co-Creator and Director of Force Basketball.
 
Barrett received an Associate of Arts degree from Pierce College and a degree in U.S. History from the University of Washington.