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Jimmy Kolaitis has been hired as the new Athletic Director at Northeast Alabama Community College. The journeyman coach returns to his home state of Alabama after serving the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Arizona State. Before joining the Sun Devils, he led the program at UAB for two seasons. In addition to his duties in administration, he will also assist with softball and Head Coach Joe Guthrie’s new program. Kolaitis will also remain a member of the USA Softball National Team Coaching Pool.

College of the Holy Cross has named Jon Ladino their new head coach. Ladino joins the Crusaders after three seasons guiding the program at Johnson & Wales University. He led the Wildcats to a 2022 conference championship and a berth in the NCAA DIII Postseason.

Brittney Matta has been named the new head coach at UC Riverside. Matta joins the Highlanders after spending the past year as associate head coach at UTEP. Before moving to El Paso, she led a successful program at South Mountain Community College for four seasons where the squad was Region 1 Champions and made an appearance in the NJCAA DII World Series.

Taylor Smartt has been named the new head coach at UAB. Smartt, an Alabama Native, joins the Blazers after a two-year run as associate head coach and assistant coach at Florida Atlantic. She helped the Owls make an appearance in the NCAA Postseason in 2024. Before her time in Boca Raton, she spent eight seasons on the coaching staff at her alma mater Troy.

Brian Daley has been named the new head coach at Alabama A&M. Daley joins the Bulldogs after working with the program at Edward Waters University. He led the program to a 32-11 record in 2022 while being named NAIA Division HBCU Softball National Champions that season.

After 31 years leading Jacksonville State, Jana McGinnis is retiring as head coach. McGinnis leaves the Gamecocks with a 1,038-607 record, good for 30th-most wins all-time among Division I coaches. She led JSU to 18 conference championships, nine NCAA tournament appearances and an NCAA Super Regional. Assistant Coach Julie Boland has been named interim head coach.

Mary Holt-Kelsch has been named the new head coach at Brown. Holt-Kelsch spent the past three seasons leading the program at Rhode Island College winning 31 games in the 2024 season. Prior to her time at RIC, she worked on the coaching staff at the University of Rhode Island as associate head coach.

A.J. Robinson has been promoted to lead the program as head coach at Cal State San Marcos. He has served on staff as an assistant coach since 2022. Robinson helped guide the Cougars to two conference championships, three NCAA Postseason appearances, and an NCAA DII World Series appearance.

Hall of Fame St. Mary’s University Coach Donna Fields has called it a career. Fields announced her retirement on Tuesday. In 27 years leading the Rattlers she compiled a 1,076-508 record. Fields led St. Mary’s to 18 conference titles, four NCAA Regional titles and the 2002 National Championship.

Kevin Fagan has been named the new head coach at Radford. Fagan spent the past four seasons at Emmanuel a DII in Georgia where he compiled a 121-96 record. Before leading the Lions, he spent six seasons at College of Central Florida where he guided the program to their first NJCAA No. 1 ranking.