Cornell University Athletics

Since its elevation to varsity status in 1994, Cornell softball has built a tradition of competitive excellence within the Ivy League. From the earliest days under head coach Jim Johnston, the Big Red began building one of the top programs on the East Coast.

The program’s golden era began with the arrival of legendary head coach Dick Blood in 1996. Over two decades at the helm, Blood transformed the Big Red into a perennial contender, capturing five Ivy League championships (1999, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010) and five NCAA Tournament appearances.

Among the standout players during this era was Lauren May, Cornell's first All-American who remains the Ivy League's all-time leaders in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and total bases. Fellow two-time Ivy League Player of the Year Alyson Intihar guided the Big Red to a pair of Ivy titles and NCAA appearances as a smooth-hitting shortstop, while Elizabeth Dalrymple, a dominant pitcher, earned Ivy League Pitcher of the Year honors twice.

Longtime assistant and Hall of Fame player Julie (Platt) Farlow took over the program following Blood's retirement and helped 19 players earn All-Ivy League honors over a decade at the helm, including shepherding the team through nearly two years of lost competition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tara Smith took over the program late in the 2025 campaign and is well on her way to helping the Big Red rise back to the top of the Ancient Eight.