UPIKE Athletics

April Charles enters her eighth season as the assistant coach for the University of Pikeville softball team in 2023-24. Charles is in charge of UPIKE’s pitchers, while also serving as the head coach of the junior-varsity team.

Charles came to Pikeville after a successful stint as the head coach at Jenkins High School for 12 seasons from 2005 to 2016. Jenkins reached the Kentucky State Tournament once under Charles in 2010, and advanced to the All-A State Tournament eight times (2008-2015). Upon leaving Jenkins, Charles had amassed a 285-125 record, which ranks 30^th in the KHSAA All-Time Coaching Wins. She was inducted into the Southeast Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame in 2016.

Charles graduated from UVA-Wise in 2004 where she pitched for the Cavalier softball team for four years. She was named first team All-Conference and All-Region three times while at UVA-Wise, as well as Female Athlete of the Year in 2004. In 2022 she was inducted into the UVA-Wise Athletic Hall of Fame.