Rounding Third Softball

Manhattan has parted ways with Coach Cat Clifford. She spent three seasons leading the Jaspers as interim then head coach. Clifford led MC to a 13-35 overall record in 2023 while going 8-12 in MAAC play.

Jordan Olson has been named the new head coach at Mayville State. Olson comes to the North Dakota school from Doane University where she has been since 2020. The 2023 DU squad finished 22-22 and 9-13 in conference play.

Jim Gasso has been named head coach at NAIA Mid-America Christian University. The husband of Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso, the Gasso patriarch is the fourth in the family to join the ranks of college softball following his wife, son JT (Oklahoma Assistant), and youngest son DJ (Utah Associate Head Coach). Gasso has been the owner of the IntenCity Sports Training Academy in Norman, Oklahoma since 2010. He also had a coaching stint at Bishop McGuiness High School in Oklahoma City.

He replaces retiring Coach Robert Wakefield who led MACU since 2011, coaching the Evangels to the 2021 NCCAA National Championship and a World Series Semifinal in 2023.

Richie Bruister has resigned as head coach at Stephen F. Austin. Bruister spent just one season in Nacogdoches where he led the Lumberjacks to a 30-24 record and No. 3 seed in the WAC Conference Tournament.

Kansas Head Coach Jennifer McFalls has received a contract extension. McFalls just completed her fifth season with the Jayhawks leading them to a 25-27 record. The 25 wins is the most for the program since 2018. McFalls has tallied 94 victories in her time leading KU.

Tennessee has announced it has extended Head Coach Karen Weekly’s contract. The extension runs through 2028. Weekly led the Lady Vols to the 2023 SEC regular-season and tournament titles. The 2023 Conference Coach of the Year also guided UT to a 44-8 record and No. 4 National Seed in the NCAA Postseason.

Even no longer with us, Joan Joyce continues to give to the Sport of Softball.

The Brakettes of Stratford, Connecticut have announced a donation of $50,000 has been received posthumously from the playing and coaching legend. The funds will be used to kickstart the Brakettes Museum Fund. Joyce played for the greatest Women’s Major Fastpitch Team of all-time in the Raybestos Brakettes. She won 11 National Championships with the squad while throwing 105 no-hitters, 33 perfect games, and striking out 5,677 batters in 429 career wins in the circle. Joyce went on to great success as the head coach at Florida Atlantic after her competition days. She sadly passed on March 26, 2022.

Michelle Cheatham has resigned as head coach at University of Texas San Antonio. Cheatham spent 10 seasons leading the program compiling a 197-287 overall record. In all she spent 22 seasons associated with UTSA as head coach, an assistant coach, and player.

Rounding Third Softball Postseason Coverage powered by Decker Sports continues this weekend at the Athens Regional. The No. 14 National Seed Georgia (39-13) welcomes Virginia Tech (37-18), Boston (51-8), and North Carolina Central (19-33) to Jack Turner Stadium. Coverage begins Thursday with scheduled team practices and media availability. Regional action gets started Friday as the Hokies take on the Terriers at 2 pm ET. The Bulldogs and Eagles follow at 4:30 pm ET. Check-in on Twitter @Rounding3rdSB and on all RTS Social Media platforms for updates throughout the weekend from the Athens Regional as the NCAA Postseason gets underway.

Sources have confirmed to RTS that Nick French has resigned as head coach at Bryant University. French spent five seasons leading the Bulldogs after one season on staff as an assistant. The well respected pitching coach nationally led the program through the difficult transition to the American East Conference. The 2023 Bryant squad finished 18-29, winning the most games since 2014.