Maryland softball head coach Julie Wright announced the addition of Victoria “Tori” Finucane as assistant coach for the 2018-19 season. Finucane will serve as the Terrapins' pitching coach. Finucane grew up locally and has been a lifelong fan of Maryland’s softball program.
“We are so very excited to add Tori to our coaching staff,” Head Coach Julie Wright said. “Her knowledge, skills, work ethic, and energy will add so much to our team and program. She is just the type of example I want our student-athletes to follow. We are thrilled she is now a Terp!”
Finucane joins the Maryland softball coaching staff after serving as the assistant softball director at Starters Sports Training in Shakopee, Minn. With Starters Softball, Finucane coached the 16U Minnesota Starters travel team, oversaw training programs for player development, and generated lesson plans for camps, clinics and private lessons.
Before her time with Starters Sports Training, Finucane played the 2017 season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, making 10 starts as pitcher going 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA and 51 strikeouts. The Gophers set a program record that season by finishing 56-5 overall, won the Big Ten regular season title as well as the Big Ten Tournament Championship, and held the No. 1 national ranking in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll.
“This is by far the biggest dream come true,” Finucane said. “Getting to come back home - coming back to my home state - is one of the most surreal experiences I think I’ve had. I’m so incredibly grateful for this opportunity from Coach Wright and the staff. I could not be more excited to get to work with these girls and have such a great and competitive season. I'm very much looking forward to the road ahead.”
Prior to transferring to Minnesota, Finucane spent three years with the University of Missouri softball team. She excelled as a freshman, winning SEC Freshman of the Year compiling a 1.73 ERA with a 21-6 record in 190.1 innings pitched. She also received first team All-SEC and freshman All-SEC honors as well as NFCA All-Southeast Region Second Team distinction. As a sophomore, Finucane compiled a 21-8 record and received second team All-SEC honors. Her junior season at Mizzou was limited due to injuries.
Finucane is a Maryland native, originally from Germantown. She graduated from Bishop O’Connell High School (Arlington, Va.) in 2013 after an illustrious high school softball career. In her two years at O’Connell, she held a 55-2 record and topped the 300 mark in strikeouts both years, establishing new single season school record for strikeouts.
