Named as the SHC softball head coach on May 17, 2022, Hanna Lythberg joined the Badger Softball staff as pitching coach under head coach Steve Kittrell in January 2021 following two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Fla.  Under her tutelage, pitcher Autumn Greene earned First Team All-Conference honors in 2019 after setting a school record for the most wins (22) and shutouts (6) in a single season. Her staff also accumulated 180 strikeouts in 2019, the most in program history.

After helping the Badgers negotiate the turbulent 2021 COVID season, her 2022 pitching staff including 1st team SIAC All-Conference Starting Pitcher Alexandra Ballester and SIAC Relief Pitcher of the Year Paityn Desormeaux.

Lythberg was named the SHC Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) in February 2022. The SWA is the highest-ranking female involved in the management of an institution’s intercollegiate athletics program. The intent of the SWA designation is to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports. Among her roles as SWA, Lythberg serves as liaison between the Department of Athletics and the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). She also assists in Game Operations and Management at fall and winter home athletic events.

Prior to her years at Keiser, Lythberg spent two years teaching first grade while working with various travel softball teams. She also assisted at Harper College while providing private coaching and team lessons.

Lythberg started her collegiate career at Valdosta State University in Georgia before transferring to Winona State University in Minnesota for three seasons. In her time at Winona State, she earned numerous awards including; NSIC Newcomer of the Year, and was a three-time All-Region and All-Conference pitcher. In the circle, she posted a 78-28 record with 496 strikeouts, 83 complete games, 18 shutouts, 2 two no-hitters.

A native of Mt. Prospect, Ill., Lythberg graduated cum laude from Winona State in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching. At Keiser, she earned a Master’s degree summa cum laude in Organizational Leadership. Her family includes her older brother, Christian, and an older sister, Kiley, who was a standout pitcher at Central College. Her parents, Paul & Miriam, and her brother live in Mt. Prospect while her sister lives in Overland Park, Kan. with her husband, Loren, and their two sons. Lythberg currently lives in Mobile.