Head softball coach Brent Matthias announced that Kelsey Aikey will be joining the coaching staff as an assistant on Monday.

Aikey comes to Simpson after spending the last two seasons on the staff at Division I University of Missouri-Kansas City as the pitching coach. Aikey helped increase UMKC’s victories in 2023 from nine to 23 in 2024. The pitching staff dropped their team ERA from 8.18 in 2023 to 3.88 in 2024, and featured eight Summit All-League selections.

Prior to UMKC, Aikey coached one season at Division II Upper Iowa and three years at Cedar Falls High School.

“I am excited to welcome the addition of Coach Aikey as our full-time assistant coach,” said Matthias.
“Coach Aikey brings great experience as both a collegiate pitcher and coach who will bring top-level experience to our Simpson softball program. Her personality and competitive spirit will blend well with our staff and team.”

Aikey played collegiate softball at Division I Western Kentucky from 2017-21, where she was a two-time second team all-conference selection and a six-time Conference USA Pitcher of the Week. When she left the Hilltoppers, Aikey held the school record in saves (17), ranked second in career strikeouts (554), and pitched the first extra-inning no-hitter in program history.

Aikey graduated from Western Kentucky in 2020 with a degree in health science before earning a master’s of recreation and sports administration in 2022 from WKU. During her playing time, Aikey was selected to the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll as well as Dean’s and President’s Lists.

A native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Aikey played three years at Cedar Falls High School before transferring to Waverly-Shell Rock for her final season.