Softball | 6/19/2026 10:15:00 AM

WASHINGTON, Pa. (pacathletics.org) – The Washington & Jefferson College Department of Athletics announced the selection of Lexi Buck as head coach of the Presidents' softball program on Friday morning. 

"Coach Buck was extremely impressive during the interview process. She has a vision for W&J softball and we believe she is the right candidate to lead us back to a conference championship level," stated Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Athletics Scott McGuinness. "It is time to come together as a softball family and put in the necessary work to elevate this program back to a PAC and NCAA regional contender each year." 

Buck comes to W&J following a three-year stint at Bethany College. Buck spent this past year as head coach of the Bison after working for two seasons as an assistant coach.

Buck posted a 30-12 record in her first year as head coach at Bethany, finishing with a 15-7 mark in Presidents' Athletic Conference play. She helped the Bison to their first 30-win season as a program since 2010. The team qualified for the six-team PAC Tournament this past spring. At the tournament, Buck helped Bethany compile a 3-2 record to finish third in the conference, falling just short of a PAC Championship appearance.

"I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the next head softball coach at Washington & Jefferson College," Buck said. "I would like to thank Scott McGuinness and everyone involved in the process for the trust and confidence they have placed in me to lead this program. W&J provides an outstanding environment for student-athletes to excel both academically and athletically, and I am excited to become part of that tradition. I look forward to working with our student-athletes and building a culture of accountability, growth, and championship-level success."

Offensively, her team led the conference in hits (415), home runs (25) and total bases (578). From a pitching standpoint, Bethany recorded the second most strikeouts and had the third lowest earned-run average among conference teams. She also coached three National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region student-athletes as well as four All-PAC selections.

Beyond her duties on gameday, Buck also oversaw all strength and conditioning operations. She also organized fundraising opportunities which granted the Bethany softball team their spring break trip to Florida and new uniforms. In the first year as head coach at Bethany, her team excelled in the classroom with a 3.65 GPA which was the highest team GPA at the college.

During her time as the assistant coach from 2023-25, Buck helped the Bethany softball program regain its identity in the PAC as a softball powerhouse. Since her arrival to West Virginia, the team was the third-most improved team in Division III softball following a 17-win jump from 2023-2024. In both of her seasons as an assistant coach, the team made the PAC Tournament and posted 25 or more wins in a season. Buck helped the team start off 15-0 in 2025, establishing a new record for the best start in Bethany softball history.

Buck spent the summer of 2021 as an intern at Walsh University, helping the athletic department coordinate summer activities for their NCAA Division II athletic programs.

She was additionally the head coach of Ohio Freedom Softball from 2019 to 2021, leading the 16U team to a .750 winning percentage in 2020.

Buck was familiar within the Presidents' Athletic Conference prior to becoming a graduate assistant at Bethany. Buck held down the starting spot at shortstop for five years at Grove City College. She helped the Wolverines to a 21-win season in 2023, which was a school-record for victories at the time. Buck was a two-time All-PAC Honorable Mention selection and was a three-year captain.

Buck currently is a three-year member of the NFCA and is an active member on the NCAA Division III Softball Rules Committee. She is serving a four-year term as one of 13 members on the committee which includes three coaches from each division (I, II, III).

Buck holds a Master of Education degree from Bethany. She also completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Grove City, including a Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Secondary General Science Education.

A native of Akron, Ohio, Buck graduated high school from Lake Center Christian in 2018.

Contributed by W&J Sports Information