New Mexico State University (NMSU) softball head coach Kathy Rodolph and associate head coach Catherine Heifner were fired in October 2025. The reasons behind their termination remain unclear, but an investigation by the Las Cruces Sun-News uncovered years of sexual misconduct allegations within the softball program.

Investigation Findings

The investigation revealed several reports made by NMSU’s Office of Institutional Equity between 2021 and 2024, involving allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and a failure to protect players who were victims. However, none of these allegations appear to have triggered Rodolph and Heifner’s firings.

NMSU has not disclosed the specific reason for the firings, and university officials have declined to provide further details. The university’s statement emphasized that the safety and well-being of students is a top priority and that NMSU has taken significant steps to strengthen its policies and procedures related to sexual misconduct and hazing.

Aftermath and Response

The firings of Rodolph and Heifner have led to conflicting public and internal accounts of the departures. While termination letters confirm that the two coaches were fired, NMSU publicly stated that Rodolph had retired. The university honored Rodolph with a pregame ceremony, during which she threw out the first pitch.

Benet Higgs, an assistant under Rodolph during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, was named interim head coach for the 2026 season and later became the permanent softball coach on May 11, 2026.

Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.