FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State softball head coach Darren Mueller announced the addition of Ashley Schilling to the coaching staff on Wednesday, July 3. Schilling joins the staff from Northern State, where she was head coach for the Wolves.
 
"We are excited to have Ashley joining our staff and look forward to working with her to develop our student-athletes," said Mueller. "I've been impressed with her coaching career at Missouri Western and then turning around the program at Northern State. Ashley will complement our coaching staff well and she brings a lot of energy and passion to coaching, and that will be a tremendous benefit to our student-athletes."
 
Schilling, who spent the last three seasons as the head coach for Northern State, led the Wolves to 25 wins this past season, the most for the program since 2018. In her time in Aberdeen, Schilling developed the program's presence at the plate, as the Wolves set single season records for home runs in 2022, as well as hits and doubles in 2024. She also helped guide a Wolves pitcher to the individual single season strikeout record and career strikeout record. The Wolves had four all-conference student-athletes and one Academic All-District selection under Schilling.
 
"I am excited for the opportunity to join the storied softball tradition at NDSU under Coach Mueller," said Schilling. "I look forward to meeting the team in August and hitting the ground running."
 
Prior to her move to Northern State, Schilling spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Missouri Western, helping to guide the Griffons to a 78-46 overall record with trips to the MIAA Tournament both years it was contested (canceled by covid in 2020) and the 2019 NCAA Central Region Tournament. Schilling was the Griffon's recruiting coordinator during her time in Saint Joseph and also served a stint as the interim head coach. In addition to her duties with the softball program, Schilling served on the Advantage Committee, Constitution and Bylaws Committee, and Professional Development Committee at Missouri Western.
 
The Omaha, Nebraska native began her coaching career as an assistant at Cincinnati Christian. Schilling was also the program's recruiting coordinator and head strength and conditioning coach during her time with the Eagles.
 
An NSIC all-conference honoree at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Schilling finished her Bulldog career with a .282 average. A four-year starter in the outfield for UMD, Schilling recorded 126 career hits, 17 career homeruns, and 75 career RBI.
 
Schilling received her Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Education and Promotions from Duluth in 2017 and Master of Arts in Sport and Fitness Management from Missouri Western in 2020.