Head Coach Megan Bartlett will be leaving Ball State to join the coaching staff at Texas it’s been announced. Bartlett joins the Longhorns after five seasons with the Cardinals going 141-108 during her tenure in Muncie.
USA Softball National Hall of Fame Member Johnson Passes
USA Softball National Hall of Fame Member and renowned sports writer Buck Johnson passed away today at the age of 93. Johnson, a driving force for the inclusion of softball in the Olympic Games, served as the chief press officer for the International Softball Federation overseeing media relations for the Atlanta and Sydney Games.
Bethune-Cookman to Depart MEAC for SWAC
Bethune-Cookman has announced they will leave the MEAC for the SWAC at the conclusion of the 2020-21 sports season. BCU has been a member of the MEAC since 1979. BCU sponsors 17 sports, including their softball program which has historically fielded an extremely competitive program. The program made a Super Regional appearance in 2005.
Riley Calls it a Career at Longwood
One of the longest tenured and respected coaches in college softball has called it a career. Kathy Riley the head coach at Longwood announced her retirement Friday. Riley spent 23 seasons with the Lancers. In a 28 year coaching career she amased 812 wins.
Wisconsin-Superior Names Fracker Head Coach
Wisconsin-Superior has named Melissa Fracker head coach. Fracker comes to the Yellowjackets after serving as an assistant coach at Western Connecticut State. Fracker helped the Colonials to a pair of Little East Conference championships and two NCAA appearances.
Division I Summer Recruiting Season Wiped Out
The NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee has once again extended the recruiting dead period in all sports through August 31. The move now wipes out the complete summer recruiting calendar for DI Softball Programs and Coaches. The calendar for off-campus recruiting was set to expire on August 9.
Arizona JUCOs Lose Season
Maricopa County in Arizona has announced that all Junior College Sports will be canceled for the 2020-21 sports season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The move cancels the softball seasons for all eight NJCAA DII teams. Currently all five NJCAA DI teams in Arizona (which include Yavapai, Pima, Eastern Arizona, Arizona Western, and Central Arizona) have not canceled their sports seasons.
Guthrie to Take Direction of UAB Program
UAB will waste little time filling their now open head coaching position after the departure of Jimmy Kolaitis. Sources have confirmed the Blazers will name associate head coach Joe Guthrie to the top spot. Guthrie has been on staff in Birmingham for two seasons. He has also served on staffs at Louisiana, Penn State, and Bucknell, along with serving as head coach at Marion Military Institute for six seasons.
Kolaitis Departs UAB for ASU
Sources have confirmed to RTS that UAB Head Coach Jimmy Kolaitis will be leaving the program to join the coaching staff at Arizona State. Kolaitis returns to the Pac-12 after two seasons in Birmingham. Kolaitis served five highly successful seasons as an assistant at Oregon.
Gasso Added to Utah Staff
Utah has named DJ Gasso to their coaching staff. The relatively young coach joins the Utes after serving as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma. Gasso is son to Sooners Head Coach and Hall of Famer Patty Gasso.