Rounding Third Softball

The NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee has once again extended the recruiting Dead Period through September 30. This latest move keeps DI Softball Coaches on-campus and allows no visits or camps up to the dates of the regular fall recruiting period that begins in October and runs until the weekend before Thanksgiving. The extended Dead Period was set to expire August 31.

‪The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) have informed their membership that the possible legislation to move the Contact Date from September 1 to July 1 will not be moving forward. A controversial and tense topic within the coaching community in the last month, the standard on legislative items of 65% supermajority of Division I Coaches was not met to move the proposal forward to the NCAA. 273 coaches from 294 programs participated in the vote with 164 coaches (60.07%) voting in favor of a change, while 109 coaches (39.93%) voted to keep the current date as is.

RTS has learned that Embry-Riddle (AZ) Head Coach Christie Ambrosi has been targeted as a top candidate by Bucknell to lead their program. She has a second interview with the Bison this week. Ambrosi, a two time All-American at UCLA, has been at ERAU for the past two seasons where she has compiled a 29-33 record.

Gustavus Adolphus has named Coley Ries their new head coach. Ries, a graduate and national championship player with the program at Minnesota State-Mankato, served the last three seasons on the coaching staff of her alma mater.

Marissa Koetting has resigned as head coach at Frank Phillips College to join the coaching staff at Delta State as an assistant. Koetting spent one pandemic shortened season with the Plainsmen after serving as an assistant at Houston Baptist.

Valparaiso has made an overhaul to their coaching staff this offseason. Head Coach Kate Stake has brought two new assistants on board in Natalie Ruechel and Mario Hernandez to help turn the Crusaders fortunes. ‪Ruechel spent the pandemic shortened 202‬0 season as an assistant at UNC Wilmington after spending a season as head coach at Averett. Hernandez joins the Crusaders after spending last season on the staff at Jacksonville coming from the high school and club levels.

Georgia Tech has announced the hiring of Marty McDaniel as their new pitching coach. McDaniel recently departed the program at Tennessee after 16 seasons on staff. No stranger to the State of Georgia, he established a highly successful program at Division II Armstrong Atlantic State before starting his run with the Lady Vols.

Midland College Head Coach Amanda Evans has stepped down to pursue an opportunity in public education she has announced. Evans spent seven years with the Chaps program, the last three as head coach. She led MC to an 85-54 record.

Penn State has announced the hiring of Clarisa Crowell as their new head coach. Crowell comes to the Nittany Lions after eight years as head coach at Miami (Ohio). She is the winningest coach in RedHawks history going 208-182.

Illinois Wesleyan has announced assistant coach Nikki Miller has been elevated to full-time status while also adding the title of Assistant to the Athletic Director to her duties. She has served on the coaching staff for the Titans for three years after coming over from Wittenberg. Miller is considered to have an in-depth softball pedigree and family lineage. Miller is the daughter of two Hall of Fame members; Hofstra Head Coach Jay Miller and former longtime NFCA Executive Director Lacey Lee Baker.