Renee Hicks, who is the winningest softball coach at Bellarmine University during the fast-pitch era, has led the Knights since the 2003-04 school year.
In 2021, Hicks guided Bellarmine into Division I and the ASUN Conference. Prior to the transition, Hicks led the program to its only two NCAA II Tournament appearances (2012, 2014) and a string of seven consecutive bids in the GLVC Tournament (2011-17), including a berth in the finals in 2014.
In 2017, Hicks rallied Bellarmine into the GLVC Tournament after a 3-11 start to conference play. The Knights followed by going 11-3 against league opponents in the regular season and then won a pair of games in the GLVC Tournament, including a 4-0 blanking of No. 6 Southern Indiana.
In 2016, Hicks guided Bellarmine to the second-most wins in program history at 33. The last of the bunch was particularly special, as she recorded the 500th victory of her collegiate coaching career in an 8-2 triumph over McKendree in the GLVC Tournament. The Knights exceeded 30 wins for a program-record third-straight season.
In 2015, Hicks led the Knights to a 32-16 record, including 20-8 in the GLVC, marking the first back-to-back 30-win seasons in program history. It was the fourth straight season in which Bellarmine accumulated at least 20 wins in conference play. The 32 victories tied for the second most in Knights history.
Hicks guided Bellarmine to a landmark season in 2014. The Knights set school records for overall wins (37), GLVC victories (27) and consecutive wins (12) while finishing as the runner-up in the GLVC Tournament and advancing to the NCAA II Tournament for the second time in school history.
Hicks also guided Bellarmine to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA II Tournament, which came in 2012. The team's 32 wins that season tied the school record before the 2014 edition of the Knights surpassed the mark.
Under Hicks' tutelage, Ally Foster in 2014 became the first All-American for Bellarmine softball, earning consensus first-team honors after also being named GLVC Player of the Year. Foster garnered second-team All-America accolades in 2016.
Before taking over Bellarmine’s program, Hicks spent four years at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. There, she guided the Gator squad to the conference tournament three times during a four-year span. During the 2001 season, she was named North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and also served as assistant women’s basketball coach.
Prior to her years at Allegheny, she was the head softball coach and assistant basketball coach at Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. During her tenure at Union from 1995-99, Hicks became the school’s all-time winningest coach. Prior to her position at Union, Hicks was the head softball coach, basketball coach and an instructor in physical education for two years at Lee’s College in Jackson, Kentucky.
Hicks graduated from Union College in 1993 with a degree in physical education and health. She earned her master’s degree from the same program in 1998. Hicks was a four-year starter at shortstop for the Bulldogs and was a three-time All-Conference and All-Region selection. She led her team to the KIAC championship in 1989 and 1991. She was also a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs basketball team. After finishing her eligibility, she spent an additional year as an assistant coach for the Union softball and basketball programs. In 2015, Hicks was inducted into the Union College Athletics Hall of Fame.
Hicks is originally from Brandenburg, Kentucky.
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