Tori Nyberg enters her seventh season as pitching coach for the Cardinal in 2024.
In 2023, Nyberg assisted the Cardinal in one of its best seasons to date, finishing 47-15 overall, 14-10 in the Pac-12 and two wins shy of a spot in the national championship series. The Cardinal made its third NCAA Women's College World Series appearance overall and first since 2004. Stanford finished tied for fourth place in the Pac-12, clinching its first winning conference record since a 13-11 finish in 2013 while the 14 conference victories were its most since a 17-11 mark in 1998.
In addition to the team success in 2023, Nyberg helped develop Alana Vawter and freshman sensation NiJaree Canady in the circle. Canady was named TUCCI/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year, leading the country in ERA (0.57) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.3) while striking out 218 and walking only 21 in 135.0 innings. Vawter was named an NFCA Second Team All-American, becoming the 17th NFCA All-American in school history and first since 2015, as she struck out 155 hitters in 190.0 innings. Canady and Vawter formed one of the most dominant pitching staffs in the nation, as the Cardinal owned the country's best strikeout-to-walk ratio and ranked third in ERA while teaming up for 21 shutouts, a total that ranked seventh in the country.
As part of Stanford's breakthrough 2022 season, which featured the most wins, most Pac-12 wins, and highest conference finish since 2013, and the first Super Regional appearance since 2011, the Cardinal's pitchers continued to lead the way. Vawter led the Pac-12 with 25 wins on the season, while Regan Krause did not allow a run over her final three appearances of the season. Vawter was again named to the All-Pac-12 first team and to the NFCA All-West Region second team. Stanford also ranked fourth nationally in shutouts (21) and 13th in ERA (1.99).
In no single weekend did Nyberg's influence shine brighter than in late-February, when Stanford had a different pitcher throw a solo no-hitter in three consecutive games - the first time that has happened in Division I history. Krause opened the weekend with a no-hitter, followed by a perfect game from Vawter, and concluded by a no-hitter from Molly Millar. Vawter's perfect game was the first for the program since 2013.
Nyberg's efforts in 2021 led to Vawter posting one of the best seasons by a Stanford pitcher in recent memory. Vawter went 22-11 on the season with a 1.54 ERA, becoming the first Cardinal pitcher with 20 wins in a season since 2014. Vawter was also named to the NFCA All-West Region first team and All-Pac-12 first team on the season.
Nyberg helped guide the 2019 Cardinal to a 33-20 overall record, including an 8-13 mark in the Pac-12 Conference, to reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2013. The Cardinal's 33 wins, two of which came over top-10 opponents, were the most in a season since 2013, and the winning record was the first for the Card since 2014. Her pitching staff managed a 3.29 team ERA, with starters Maddy Dwyer and Carolyn Lee each registering 12 victories, and Lee garnering CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-American and NFCA All-Region third team honors. Nyberg also developed a strong bullpen, highlighted by Kiana Pancino's 7-0 record with eight saves and a 2.49 ERA over 29 appearances.
Stanford went 22-4 overall in 2020, completing just over one month of nonconference play before the remainder of the season was shortened due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Stanford received votes in the major polls throughout the year, finishing the season as the highest vote-getter outside of the top 25 in the Softball America poll and the second-highest vote-getter outside the top 25 in the NFCA poll. In the circle, Stanford ranked third in the Pac-12 in ERA (1.51) while sitting eighth nationally and amassing nine shutouts – eighth-most in the nation and third in the Pac-12. Nyberg was responsible for developing a young staff in 2020, as freshmen hurlers accounted for 119.1 of the 171 innings pitched during the season (70%). Alana Vawter logged 61.1 innings, while Tatum Boyd pitched 57.1 to lead the way. Twenty-one of the 26 starts also went to the two freshmen standouts as the duo compiled a 16-1 combined record.
Nyberg, who was teammates with current head coach Jessica Allister at Stanford from 2001-03, returned to The Farm after leading Dominican in 2017. She made previous stops at Cal State Monterey Bay (2016), Northwestern (2004-10) and at the University of Illinois-Chicago (2003).
“Coach Nyberg was a great pitcher for Stanford and has excelled as a pitching coach since she left,” said Allister. “She understands the skill set necessary to compete at the highest level and has the teaching acumen to help her pitchers get there. She has head coaching experience and knows what goes into leading a successful program. I am so excited to bring her back to Stanford.”
While an assistant coach at Northwestern, Nyberg helped guide the Wildcats to two Big Ten Conference titles and multiple appearances in the Women’s College World Series. She and her coaching staff earned NCAA Division I Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2006.
Nyberg has been active in the softball community off the field as well as the owner of Elevate Performance Counseling, LLC, which focuses on sports and performance counseling. Nyberg graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stanford and earned a master’s in counseling psychology from Northwestern.
Nyberg had a successful career with the Cardinal and was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection (2002, 2003), two-time NFCA Scholar Athlete (2002, 2003) and two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honoree (2002-2003).
Nyberg still ranks among the top 10 in Stanford history in career ERA (1.74), strikeouts (440), victories (53), innings pitched (551.0) and shutouts (14).
In 2023, Nyberg assisted the Cardinal in one of its best seasons to date, finishing 47-15 overall, 14-10 in the Pac-12 and two wins shy of a spot in the national championship series. The Cardinal made its third NCAA Women's College World Series appearance overall and first since 2004. Stanford finished tied for fourth place in the Pac-12, clinching its first winning conference record since a 13-11 finish in 2013 while the 14 conference victories were its most since a 17-11 mark in 1998.
In addition to the team success in 2023, Nyberg helped develop Alana Vawter and freshman sensation NiJaree Canady in the circle. Canady was named TUCCI/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year, leading the country in ERA (0.57) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.3) while striking out 218 and walking only 21 in 135.0 innings. Vawter was named an NFCA Second Team All-American, becoming the 17th NFCA All-American in school history and first since 2015, as she struck out 155 hitters in 190.0 innings. Canady and Vawter formed one of the most dominant pitching staffs in the nation, as the Cardinal owned the country's best strikeout-to-walk ratio and ranked third in ERA while teaming up for 21 shutouts, a total that ranked seventh in the country.
As part of Stanford's breakthrough 2022 season, which featured the most wins, most Pac-12 wins, and highest conference finish since 2013, and the first Super Regional appearance since 2011, the Cardinal's pitchers continued to lead the way. Vawter led the Pac-12 with 25 wins on the season, while Regan Krause did not allow a run over her final three appearances of the season. Vawter was again named to the All-Pac-12 first team and to the NFCA All-West Region second team. Stanford also ranked fourth nationally in shutouts (21) and 13th in ERA (1.99).
In no single weekend did Nyberg's influence shine brighter than in late-February, when Stanford had a different pitcher throw a solo no-hitter in three consecutive games - the first time that has happened in Division I history. Krause opened the weekend with a no-hitter, followed by a perfect game from Vawter, and concluded by a no-hitter from Molly Millar. Vawter's perfect game was the first for the program since 2013.
Nyberg's efforts in 2021 led to Vawter posting one of the best seasons by a Stanford pitcher in recent memory. Vawter went 22-11 on the season with a 1.54 ERA, becoming the first Cardinal pitcher with 20 wins in a season since 2014. Vawter was also named to the NFCA All-West Region first team and All-Pac-12 first team on the season.
Nyberg helped guide the 2019 Cardinal to a 33-20 overall record, including an 8-13 mark in the Pac-12 Conference, to reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2013. The Cardinal's 33 wins, two of which came over top-10 opponents, were the most in a season since 2013, and the winning record was the first for the Card since 2014. Her pitching staff managed a 3.29 team ERA, with starters Maddy Dwyer and Carolyn Lee each registering 12 victories, and Lee garnering CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-American and NFCA All-Region third team honors. Nyberg also developed a strong bullpen, highlighted by Kiana Pancino's 7-0 record with eight saves and a 2.49 ERA over 29 appearances.
Stanford went 22-4 overall in 2020, completing just over one month of nonconference play before the remainder of the season was shortened due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Stanford received votes in the major polls throughout the year, finishing the season as the highest vote-getter outside of the top 25 in the Softball America poll and the second-highest vote-getter outside the top 25 in the NFCA poll. In the circle, Stanford ranked third in the Pac-12 in ERA (1.51) while sitting eighth nationally and amassing nine shutouts – eighth-most in the nation and third in the Pac-12. Nyberg was responsible for developing a young staff in 2020, as freshmen hurlers accounted for 119.1 of the 171 innings pitched during the season (70%). Alana Vawter logged 61.1 innings, while Tatum Boyd pitched 57.1 to lead the way. Twenty-one of the 26 starts also went to the two freshmen standouts as the duo compiled a 16-1 combined record.
Nyberg, who was teammates with current head coach Jessica Allister at Stanford from 2001-03, returned to The Farm after leading Dominican in 2017. She made previous stops at Cal State Monterey Bay (2016), Northwestern (2004-10) and at the University of Illinois-Chicago (2003).
“Coach Nyberg was a great pitcher for Stanford and has excelled as a pitching coach since she left,” said Allister. “She understands the skill set necessary to compete at the highest level and has the teaching acumen to help her pitchers get there. She has head coaching experience and knows what goes into leading a successful program. I am so excited to bring her back to Stanford.”
While an assistant coach at Northwestern, Nyberg helped guide the Wildcats to two Big Ten Conference titles and multiple appearances in the Women’s College World Series. She and her coaching staff earned NCAA Division I Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2006.
Nyberg has been active in the softball community off the field as well as the owner of Elevate Performance Counseling, LLC, which focuses on sports and performance counseling. Nyberg graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stanford and earned a master’s in counseling psychology from Northwestern.
Nyberg had a successful career with the Cardinal and was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection (2002, 2003), two-time NFCA Scholar Athlete (2002, 2003) and two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honoree (2002-2003).
Nyberg still ranks among the top 10 in Stanford history in career ERA (1.74), strikeouts (440), victories (53), innings pitched (551.0) and shutouts (14).