MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – RMU Athletics announced Wednesday that head softball coach Jexx Varner has resigned after accepting the head coaching position at Kent State.
 
"This is such a bittersweet announcement," said Varner. "I have so much love and appreciation for all the people who made the past decade so amazing. I am extremely proud of what WE have built here and the impacts the women of our program have made on this University, department, the Horizon League and Moon Township community. Every single person that has touched this program has helped get RMU Softball to where it is today."
 
Varner departs Robert Morris after eight seasons at the helm of the softball program, leaving as one of the most successful coaches in program history.
 
Under his leadership, the Colonials reached the Horizon League Championship game three times, captured the 2025 Horizon League Tournament title and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005.
 
Over eight seasons, Varner compiled 183 career victories and a .517 overall winning percentage. Since RMU joined the Horizon League in 2021, he guided the Colonials to a 90-55 conference record (.621), helping establish the program as one of the league's perennial contenders. RMU is the only Horizon League program to qualify for the conference tournament every season since 2021.
 
The Colonials reached new heights during Varner's tenure, particularly over the past two seasons. In 2025, RMU placed a program-record eight student-athletes on the Horizon League All-Conference teams while winning the league tournament championship.
 
The 2026 season proved to be one of the finest in school history. Robert Morris finished among the nation's elite offensive teams, ranking third nationally in scoring, fourth in batting average and slugging percentage, sixth in home runs per game and ninth in on-base percentage.
 
The Colonials also rewrote the program record book, setting single-season records in batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs and RBIs.
 
Individual success followed as well. Under Varner's guidance, RMU swept the Horizon League's Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards for the first time in program history, as Courtney Poulich and Aglaia Rudd earned the honors. Poulich, Rudd and Mary Brant were all named NFCA All-Region selections, marking another program record for All-Region honorees in a single season.
 
Varner also coached Poulich to one of the most decorated seasons in RMU Athletics history, as she became the first student-athlete in university history to receive the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor and the first Colonial since 2022 to earn College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® honors.
 
RMU Athletics thanks Coach Varner for his dedication and commitment to the softball program over the past eight seasons and wishes him continued success in his next chapter.
 
"Amy, Hadley, Brayden and I are beyond grateful for every memory and relationship of Bobby Mo Softball that has shaped our world," stated Varner. "Thank you will truly never be enough. We love you all!"