Rounding Third Softball

RTS is saddened to report the passing of former Armstrong State Head Coach Ted Evans. Evans coached the Pirates for 12 seasons between 2005-2016 compiling a 418-213-1 record. During that time the program advanced to three NCAA DII World Series. He also had runs as an assistant with JUCO powerhouse Chattanooga State, and finished his coaching career assisting at Bryan College.

A former player in the Cincinnati Reds organization, Evans played and coached competitive men’s fastpitch for 19 years being named Player of the Year three times in the nationally renowned Dixie Major League in Chattanooga.

Brady Tigert has departed as head coach at Catawba College. The institute announced a change in leadership on Tuesday. Tigert led the Indians for three seasons compiling a 54-79 record. Program alum and Athletics Hall of Famer Allie Lyerly will serve as interim head coach for the 2025 season.

Georgia has unveiled their new training facility at Jack Turner Stadium. The 20,000 square foot $38.5 million facility includes a four-lane batting cage with a full practice turf infield, weight room, locker room, team lounge and nutrition space, video room, athletic training room, and equipment room.

Sources have confirmed to RTS that former Oklahoma Sooner and Texas A&M Aggie Hayley Lee will be named an assistant coach at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Lee spent four standout seasons with the Aggies before a final Redshirt Senior Season with the Sooners. She was named an All-Central Region Second Team selection and was on the All-Big 12 First Team while helping OU to the 2023 National Championship.

She now joins new UT Dallas Head Coach and Oklahoma Alumnus Casey Dickson as the Comets join the ranks of Division II as a member of the Lone Star Conference for the 2025 season.

UAB has announced former Head Coach Marla Townsend will be inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. The founder of the Blazer Program, she coached from 2000-2018 leading the program to five straight NCAA Postseasons including the 2013 Super Regional. Townsend was a three-time Conference USA Coach of the Year.

After 34 years leading the program at Hawaii, the 2025 season will be the last for Head Coach Bob Coolen. The Rainbow Wahine Skipper has announced he will not seek a contract extension after his current two-year deal runs out. Coolen could reach the 1200 win plateau in his final season. During his tenure UH appeared in 11 NCAA Postseasons, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2010.

RTS has learned that Casey Dickson has taken the head coaching position at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dickson worked the past five seasons on the coaching staff at Towson. Before a stint working in private instruction and running an indoor training facility, Dickson led programs at Austin Peay, Temple, and Frank Phillips College. She takes over a UT Dallas program that went 17-20 in their first season in Division II last season.

Brittany Beall has been named the new head coach at Florida A&M. Beall spent the past decade as head coach at Eustis’ High School. In 16 seasons leading programs she has amassed a 257-77 record while winning multiple state championships, including the 2024 FHSAA 4A State Title.

The highest paid coach in softball has now surpassed herself.

Oklahoma Coach Patty Gasso received a contract extension through 2028 Friday that will pay her an average of $2 million annually. The Hall of Fame Coach had made $1.775 million annually on her previous deal.

Gasso will be in her 31st season leading the Sooners this spring and has guided the program to a 1,515-352-2 record. She has won eight National Championships, having secured OU’s fourth in a row in 2024.

Leigh Streetman has been promoted to head coach at Mississippi College. Streetman served as an assistant for the Choctaws for the past seven seasons. During her time on staff she has helped the program to a 218-107 record, four NCAA Regional berths, and a Super Regional appearance.