Utah State softball coach Todd Judge resigns midseason, Shelby Thompson named interim

Utah State University head softball coach Todd Judge resigned on March 17, ending his tenure with the program 17 games into the 2026 season.

USU Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker announced the decision, which was effective immediately. Assistant coach Shelby Thompson will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and a national search for a permanent replacement has begun.

“I am thankful for the time Todd invested in the softball program,” Walker said in a statement. “We have confidence in Shelby’s ability to lead the team during this transition. I’m looking forward to the future of the softball program and supporting our student-athletes.”

Judge departed in his fourth season leading the Aggies. Utah State held a 12-15 overall record at the time of his resignation and had just opened Mountain West play by winning two of three games at Fresno State — the program’s first series win in Fresno since 2017.

The timing comes in the middle of a turbulent stretch for the Aggies. After opening the season 7-2, Utah State dropped 12 of its next 15 games, including an eight-game losing streak in which the team was run-ruled five times and lost by an average margin of 9.6 runs.

Despite those struggles, the Aggies showed signs of momentum in recent days. Utah State’s series win over Fresno State marked a turning point, and in Thompson’s first game as interim head coach on March 17, the Aggies earned a 2-1 win over Idaho State in Pocatello.

First-year pitcher Kendall Cochran threw a complete game with a career-high seven strikeouts against the Bengals, while senior catcher Kaylee Erickson provided the difference with a two-run home run in the sixth inning.

Judge’s tenure included one of the most productive offensive seasons in program history in 2025, when the Aggies ranked among the top 35 nationally in multiple hitting categories. That same season, Utah State reached the Mountain West tournament for the first time and recorded notable wins over No. 19 Baylor and Purdue.

Those results appeared to signal progress for a program looking to take a step forward in the conference. Entering the 2026 season, Judge emphasized building a more complete roster — particularly improving pitching depth — with the goal of competing for an NCAA tournament berth.

Instead, the season ends his tenure abruptly, with Utah State now shifting direction midyear.

Thompson, who joined the staff prior to the 2025 season after a standout playing career at University of California San Diego, inherits a team entering the early stages of conference play with an opportunity to build on its recent results.

Utah State will continue Mountain West play this weekend against Nevada as the program begins its transition under new leadership.