Hired in October of 2025, Courtlynn Cooney is entering her first season as the Head Softball Coach at Barton College.

Cooney, a 2024 graduate from the University of Mount Olive, was one of the best players in recent program history.  Cooney was a four-time All-Conference Carolinas and All-Region First-Team honoree (2021-24) who holds 11 school records including season batting average (.503), career batting average (.443), career hits (282), season hits (84), career runs (193), season runs (65), career stolen bases (136), season stolen bases (46) and career triples (11).

Cooney, a native of Mechanicsburg, Md., earned her bachelor's degree in business management with a minor in economics.  Cooney was an Easton/NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Conference honoree.  In addition, Cooney was Mount Olive's Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year as a junior in 2023.

Cooney was also a private softball instructor, initiated a successful prospect camp at Ferrum and served as an umpire for the Southern Maryland Youth Organization (SMYO) Little League.