Morgan VanderBor, a 2018 graduate of Western Michigan, joined the WMU softball program as an assistant coach in July of 2022. She serves as the program's primary pitching coach.
VanderBor joined the Broncos after spending six seasons as the head coach at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. During her tenure at KVCC, the Cougars were extremely successful, as the team posted an overall record of 139-81 (.632), a 112-40 (.737) mark in conference play, made four NJCAA Regional appearances, had a regional runner-up finish and twice finished as the state runner-up. Under her guidance, the team posted an overall ERA of 3.88 and racked up 40 shutouts.
The 2018 Western Conference Coach of the Year, VanderBor had eight All-Region selections, four of which were pitchers, and boasted a pair of Region Players of the Year, including one pitcher. Under her tutelage, KVCC racked up 22 All-Conference honorees and 21 Honorable Mention All-Conference performers. The softball program was also the campus’ team GPA leader on five occasions.
Prior to taking over the head coaching position at KVCC, VanderBor spent two seasons as an assistant with the Cougars, primarily focusing on recruiting and coordinating team practices.
In addition to her collegiate coaching background, VanderBor has extensive experience working and training athletes on an individual level. She is the owner of Starting Lineup LLC in Vicksburg, Mich., where she works with dozens of clients individually on pitching, hitting and fielding. During her time at Starting Lineup, the program has produced players who have gone on to play at 18 different schools throughout the Great Lakes region.
Before her time at Starting Lineup LLC, VanderBor worked with young softball players from ages 6-18 at Worden’s Softball Academy in Kalamazoo.
VanderBor played at KVCC from 2012-14, helping the Cougars to back-to-back NJCAA National Tournament appearances. In her career, she batted .392, posted a .467 on-base percentage, blasted 10 home runs, collected 18 doubles and drove in 49 runs. As a freshman, she registered a 2.43 ERA in the circle.
A native of Vicksburg, VanderBor graduated from WMU’s Haworth College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in Management and General Business in 2018.
2024: VanderBor helped the Broncos see one of their best defensive seasons in over a decade: During the campaign, VanderBor guided the WMU pitching staff to their fewest runs allowed since 2012 (excluding the shortened 2020 COVID year) behind a team total of 300 strikeouts. In the circle, VanderBor helped senior pitcher Rissa Bajusz and junior Kailey O'Connor combine for 11 shutouts and 23 complete games behind career years in the circle.
Additionally, VanderBor led Bajusz to one of the best campaigns ever by a Bronco pitcher: Bajusz posted career highs with 16 wins (fourth most pitching wins in WMU single-season history), a 1.93 ERA (a career-high for Bajusz), 218 strikeouts (fifth most strikeouts in WMU single-season history) and eight shutouts in 173.0 innings pitched. Under VanderBor's guidance, Bajusz became WMU's first ever MAC Pitcher of the Year behind All-MAC First Team honors, three MAC Pitcher of the Week selections, and three NFCA Top Performer nods.
VanderBor would also propel O'Connor to a career year after she posted a career-best 7-4 record in 2024 behind 48 strikeouts and two complete game shutouts. During the season, O'Connor allowed the fewest earned run average and earned run total of career. On April 9, O'Connor earned first career NFCA Top Performer nod after limiting opponents to a minuscule 0.68 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched with the help of six strikeouts while limiting opposing batters to two walks. At the time of her nomination, VanderBor helped O'Connor to third in the MAC in shutouts and second in the conference in hits allowed.
