Paula U'Ren embarks on her 22nd season as head coach of the St. Cloud State University softball team in 2019.
She has compiled an impressive 682-467 overall career record (a .594 winning percentage). She earned the historic 600th victory of her illustrious career on March 8, 2016 in the team’s 11-2 victory over LeMoyne College at the Spring Games in Florida.
In recent years, SCSU posted an impressive 35-19, 20-10 NSIC record and finished among the region's top 10 ranked teams in 2018. SCSU's Haley McFarlane and Morgan Emmans were both named to the All-NSIC squad in 2018. SCSU also hit the 30-win plateau in 2017 (32-23) and 2016 (30-27) under U'Ren's leadership.
During her tenure the Huskies have placed third at the 2004 NCAA national tournament, qualified for the NCAA Regional Tournament eight times and won the North Central Conference playoff championship three times, including back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004.
History was made during the 2004 season, as U'Ren led SCSU to a first place finish at the NCAA Division II North Central Regional tournament. At the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championships in Altamonte Springs, Fla., U'Ren's troops marched to a third place finish - thus marking the highest finish at the national level in team history.
At SCSU, U'Ren has coached NCAA DII All-Americans: Karissa Hoehn, Jenny Gensch, Abby Bourman, Brooke Gentzler, and Abby Velta. She has also coached St. Cloud State Hall of Famers: Michelle Lechner and Karissa Hoehn.
U'Ren has also helped mentor graduate assistants and former players who have moved into the softball coaching ranks including: Krista Unger Wood (South Dakota State), Stephanie Roan (University of Mary), Jackie Manrique (Loyola), Jamie Trachsel (University of Minnesota), Tiffany Rose (Rosemount HS) and Angie Berg Ryan (Stillwater) along with former Elk River H.S. coaching notable Stacey Schoenrock Sheetz.
In the classroom, SCSU has mirrored its success on the field with 88 Division II softball academic award winners during the U'Ren era. The team has consistently scored a team grade point average of 3.00 or higher and
A National Fastpitch Coaches Association member since 1995, U'Ren has served on several committees with the NFCA: the All-American Committee (1998-2000 and 2008-2010), the Top-25 Committee Poll (2010-12), the Education Committee (2010-present) and nominating committee (2012-present). She has been a guest speaker at various clinics throughout the Midwest and has been the featured speaker at the Minnesota High School Clinics.
U’Ren was inducted into the Augustana (S.D.) College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 as an athlete and also was inducted as a member of the 1993 Championship team. U'Ren also gained personal recognition in 2003 as she was awarded the Ole Odney Award, which is presented each year by Augustana College for outstanding achievement in coaching by an Augustana graduate.
In 2009, U’Ren was inducted into the Minnesota High School Hall of Fame. That same year she garnered the Legacy Award from the North Central Conference.
U’Ren is actively involved with National Girls and Women in Sports Day at St. Cloud State, Coaches vs. Cancer Events including the Kelly Laas Memorial Invitational, and community service projects with the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots.
U’Ren is a 1995 graduate of Augustana College where she majored in Fitness/Exercise Physiology. As a collegiate player at Augustana, U'Ren was named a three-time All-Region, All-NCC and NCAA Division II All-American selection in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and finished among the top 10 players in NCAA Division II softball in batting average, home runs and RBIs. In her tenure at Augie, the Vikings posted a 207-45 record - including a 57-7 record her junior season. In the all-time NCAA Division II records, U'Ren ranks fourth for career RBIs with 192, sixth with 32 career homers and 15th with 41 career doubles.
She was inducted into the Maple River High School Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 2008.
U'Ren received her M.S. in exercise sports science from St. Cloud State. As a graduate student at SCSU, U'Ren served as a graduate assistant coach under Dr. Sue Becker.
A Mapleton, Minn., native, U’Ren finished her doctorate in Higher Education Administration at St. Cloud State during the fall of 2017. She resides in St. Cloud with her partner Hillary and their two children Amelia and Livia.