Rounding Third Softball

RTS has confirmed that Mary Karen Wheat will be named the new assistant coach at Bryant University. Wheat has spent the last three seasons at University of Rochester. During her tenure UR appeared in the DIII World Series in 2021, leading to her being named National Assistant Coach of the Year after that season. Wheat will serve as the Bulldogs pitching coach.

UC Santa Barbara has named Hall of Fame Coach Jo Evans as the next Gauchos leader. RTS reported last month that Evans was the top target for UCSB.

Evans spent 26 seasons coaching the program at Texas A&M. In 37 seasons as a collegiate head coach she has compiled a record of 1,300-714-2. She is 11th in the NCAA for total career wins.

UC Santa Barbara finished the 2022 season 15-39 and 6-21 in Big West play.

Former Missouri assistant coach Michaela Transue has landed her next coaching job joining the staff at Binghamton. Long-thought as embedded in the Missouri Softball program having been with the Tigers in various positions since 2018 while also having competed for Head Coach Larissa Anderson at Hofstra, she spent just one year in a full-time assistant coach role in 2022 before moving on. Binghamton finished last season 22-23 and 7-8 in American East Conference play.

Arguably the greatest power hitter in the history of softball is coming to collegiate coaching.

Texas A&M-Commerce has announced that Olympic Gold Medal Winner Crystl Bustos will be joining their coaching staff. Bustos won Olympic Gold Medals in 2000 and 2004, and is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and National Softball Hall of Fame.

Bustos has spent her time since retiring from active competition in the private training field, while also establishing her own national club organization Ruthless Softball.

“I’m so thankful for this opportunity and to be part of the Lion Family. It’s time to do what Lions do!” Bustos commented to RTS after her hiring Wednesday.

Bustos joins the staff of new Texas A&M-Commerce Head Coach Brittany Miller. The Lions compete in their first season of Division I in 2023.

UAB added the final pieces to their full-time staff Tuesday with the hiring of a pair of coaches. Sallie Beth Burch was brought on as associate head coach, while Mollie Hanson was added as the program pitching coach. Burch joins the Blazers after serving on the coaching staff at Jacksonville State the last three years. Hanson was the pitching coach at Florida Gulf Coast in 2022 after five years in a similar role at Mercer.

Sources have confirmed to RTS that Tennessee Tech will name Danielle Penner their new head coach. Penner comes to the Golden Eagles after spending the past five seasons on the coaching staff at Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers Associate Head Coach gets her second leadership opportunity after a very successful 12 season run at DII Barry University. She compiled a 404-210 record while in Miami.

Emory & Henry College has announced a GoFundMe to assist with medical expenses for former head coach Tommy Forrester.

Last month Forrester was admitted to Wake Forest Baptist hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina after a mass was detected in his brain. Surgery was conducted on Friday, July 29 and the surgical team removed as much of the tumor as possible.

Forrester led Emory & Henry for nine seasons where the program appeared in the Division III Postseason in 2017, 2019, and 2021. He stepped down after the conclusion of the 2022 season to accept another position at the institute.

Donations for Coach Forrester can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/5vnsq-coach-tommy-forrester…

Saginaw Valley State has named Ryan Schalk their new head coach. Schalk comes to the Cardinals after serving a second stint as assistant coach at conference rival Grand Valley State. He gives stability to a program that went through some trials and tribulations in 2022 of an in-season coaching change, but still managed to win the GLIAC Tournament Championship and appear in the NCAA Regionals. Schalk has also had coaching stops at Toledo, Alverno, and Muskegon Community College.

RTS is saddened to report the passing of Hall of Fame Coach Margie Knight on Sunday July 31. Knight was a coach for 41 years including 24 of those at Salisbury University. She retired in 2020 as one of the winningest coaches in Division III with 829 victories, 18 conference championships, and nine world series appearances.

Jenna Hall has been named the new head coach at Ohio. Hall rejoins the Bobcats after serving on staff previously for four seasons under former head coach Jodi Hermanek. She spent the last three seasons working for Hermanek directing the offense at Pittsburgh.