Rich Calvert is stepping down as head coach at Drake. Calvert led the Bulldogs for 21 seasons winning 576 games. He also guided the program to Missouri Valley Conference regular season titles in 2015 and 2018, and MVC Tournament Championships in 2008 and 2018.
Wells To Join Coaching Staff At Michigan State
Sources have confirmed to RTS that UNC Greensboro Assistant Coach Bethaney Wells will join the coaching staff at Michigan State. Wells was instrumental in the recent run of success for UNCG which included winning the 2023 Southern Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships, and advancing to the NCAA Postseason. The Spartans won five SoCon Championships in a row in Wells time in Greensboro while moving on to an NCAA Regional in 2018, 2021, and 2023.
Stuedeman To Lead UTSA
Vann Stuedeman has been named the new head coach at University of Texas San Antonio. Stuedeman joins the Roadrunners after serving as a pitching coach at Illinois in the 2023 season. The veteran coach led the program at Mississippi State for seven seasons between 2012-2019, amassing a 276-189 record while making seven NCAA Postseason appearances.
O’Donnell To Kent State
Jessica O’Donnell has stepped down as head coach at Saint Francis to accept the head coaching position at Kent State. O’Donnell coached the Red Flash for five seasons going 137-101 overall and 67-18 in Northeast Conference play. She led SFU to NEC Tournament titles and NCAA berths in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Penn Tabs Novatin Head Coach
Pennsylvania has hired Christie Novatin as their new head coach. Novatin takes over leadership of the Quakers after working on the coaching staff at Connecticut since 2019 as Associate Head Coach. The past two seasons UConn was 72-33 and 39-9 in the Big East, winning back-to-back conference championships.
Pitt Names Hall of Famer Allard Head Coach
Pittsburgh has named Hall of Fame Coach Jenny Allard to lead their program. Allard spent the past 28 seasons as the head coach at Harvard. She amassed a record of 688-518-4, including a 342-130-1 mark in the Ivy League. The Crimson won nine Ivy Titles while making eight NCAA Postseason appearances under her tutelage.
RTS Heads To Chicago For AUX
RTS will head to the Windy City on Monday for the second series of the Athletes Unlimited Season. The pros will take the field at Parkway Bank Sports Complex starting at 5 pm CST as Team Leach takes on Team Filler. Team Taylor will then take on Team Filler at 7:30 pm CST to complete the scheduled doubleheader. Check-in on Twitter @Rounding3rdSB and on all RTS Social Media platforms for live in-game updates and information from Chicago.
Rules Committee Proposes Changes
The NCAA Softball Rules Committee has once again embarked on their yearly crusade to leave their mark on the sport.
The committee has proposed that when pushing off the pitcher’s plate, both feet of pitchers could disengage from the playing surface during their delivery, starting in the 2023-24 year. “Under the proposal, the pitcher’s pivot foot could become airborne with one push from the pitcher’s plate. However, pitchers would not be allowed to replant their pivot foot, resulting in pushing off from a second point and the pitcher being farther away from the pitcher’s plate. Committee members think whether the pivot foot stays in contact with the ground or is airborne, there is no advantage gained by the pitcher.”
Other interesting debate to come out of the committee is the obstruction by a defensive player, deemed as such if said player blocks any part of the leading edge of any base or otherwise blocks the runner from advancing or returning to a base. The committee also recommended expanding video review, and a possible option regarding a visible action/pitch.
Perine Retires From Missouri State Softball
Missouri State Associate Head Coach Beth Perine has announced her retirement. Perine spent 28 seasons with the program. She helped lead the Bears to six Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances. Perine will transition into a new role as an academic advisor at MSU.
McCluskey Calls It A Career At EAC
Eastern Arizona College Head Coach Kate McCluskey is stepping down. McCluskey led the Gila Monsters for 33 seasons winning Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Championships in 1998, 2007, 2015, 2016, and 2023, and Region 1 Championships in 2007, 2015, 2018, and 2023. Assistant Coach Alexis Aguirre will step in as the Interim Head Coach to lead the team for the 2024 season.