DePaul is once again turning to alumni to lead their program. Blue Demon Hall of Fame member Liz Bouck-Jagielski will guide the Chicagoland School. Bouck-Jagielski experience as of late has been mostly at the high school and club levels. She served as an assistant at DePaul after her playing days from 2004-2011. During the 2024 season she served as an assistant coach at NAIA Roosevelt University in the Windy City.
Final Softball America DI Top 25
The final Softball America DI Top 25 Poll was released today. To no surprise, the National Champion Oklahoma Sooners sit atop.
| Rank | School | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 59-7 |
| 2 | Texas | 55-10 |
| 3 | Florida | 54-15 |
| 4 | Stanford | 50-17 |
| 5 | UCLA | 43-12 |
| 6 | Alabama | 39-20 |
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 49-12 |
| 8 | Duke | 52-9 |
| 9 | Missouri | 48-18 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 44-12 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | 44-15 |
| 12 | LSU | 44-17 |
| 13 | Georgia | 43-19 |
| 14 | Baylor | 36-23 |
| 15 | Florida State | 46-16 |
| 16 | Arizona | 37-18-1 |
| 17 | Louisiana | 45-19 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 37-18 |
| 19 | Texas State | 47-15 |
| 20 | Oregon | 30-21 |
| 21 | Omaha | 43-15 |
| 22 | Virginia | 34-20 |
| 23 | Northwestern | 35-13 |
| 24 | Washington | 32-15 |
| 25 | Liberty | 38-25 |
South Carolina To Name Chastain Head Coach
Sources have confirmed to RTS that Charlotte Head Coach Ashley Chastain will be named the next head coach at South Carolina. An official announcement is expected as early as Wednesday after Board of Trustee approval. Chastain, the South Carolina alumni, has spent the past five seasons leading Charlotte where she compiled a 154-96 record. She guided the 49ers to three conference championships and two appearances in the NCAA Postseason. Chastain was a standout pitcher for the Gamecocks from 2009-2011.
Snider/Sanders Join Staff At Tennessee
From one power couple, to the next for Tennessee.
The Lady Vols announced Sunday that they have hired Craig Snider and Stephanie Sanders as new assistant coaches. They replace Chris and Kate Malveaux that departed last week to become co-head coaches at Auburn.
Snider comes to Knoxville as one of the top hitting coaches in be game after spending the past two seasons as head coach at Texas Tech. He is best known for his time as an assistant at Florida State helping lead them to the 2018 National Championship.
Sanders spent the past two seasons on the coaching staff at Penn State. Sanders also had stops at Miami (OH), Villanova, and Saginaw Valley State. She will work with the Lady Vol outfielders and catchers.
Smith Out At South Carolina
In an astonishingly late move, South Carolina has moved on from Coach Beverly Smith. Smith led the Gamecocks for 14 seasons and had a 461-323 overall record. This year’s squad made it to the Durham Regional Final. The 2023 team was SEC Tournament runners-up. South Carolina went to the post-season nine total times, advancing to a Super Regional in 2018.
Beloved Coach Robinson Passes
RTS is saddened to report the passing of Howard Payne University Head Coach Ty Robinson. The veteran coach took over the HPU program in the fall of 2023. Robinson has been described as a players coach and wildly popular with his colleagues throughout the coaching profession. He worked at the DI, NAIA, and Junior College levels through a successful career as a mentor and coach.
Armitage Named Valpo Coach
Valparaiso has named Mike Armitage head coach. Armitage spent the past three seasons leading the program at DII Minnesota State Moorhead. He compiled an overall record of 71-71 while going 33-19 in the 2024 season.
Missouri State Promotes Griffith
Missouri State has named Kasey Griffith head coach. Griffith has been on the Bears staff the last two seasons and was promoted to associate head coach in July 2023. She takes over for Holly Hesse who retired at the conclusion of the season.
Nuveman Tops Notre Dame List
RTS had learned from sources with knowledge of the search that Stacey Nuveman Deniz is a top candidate for the open position at Notre Dame. Nuveman Deniz has been the head coach at San Diego State since 2021, after being promoted from within the staff after the retirement of longtime coach Kathy Van Wyk. The same sources have indicated the interest is very much mutual as Nuveman Deniz has already been on-campus in South Bend.
Auburn Hires Malveaux Pair
Auburn has hired Chris and Kate Malveaux to lead their program. The tandem will serve as co-head coaches for the Tigers. They come to The Plains after working the past three seasons on the staff at Tennessee. The husband and wife tandem helped guide the Lady Vols to SEC Championships the last two seasons and a WCWS appearance in 2023.