Rounding Third Softball

South Florida has named program alum Karla Claudio Rivera their new pitching coach. She moves into the position after it was initially accepted by former UNLV and Santa Clara coach Lisa Dodd back in June. Dodd would eventually reverse course and decide not to join the Bulls coaching staff. Rivera starred in the circle and at the plate for USF in 2014 and 2015. She came to the Bulls after playing two seasons on the JUCO level at Santa Fe College. Claudio Rivera also competed for the Puerto Rican National Team and in the European professional ranks while working on the coaching staff at Santa Fe between 2016-2018.

William Peace University has named Toni Wood to their coaching staff. Wood (formerly Williford) is a former North Carolina State standout in the outfield and will head up that unit for WPU. During her time between 2008-2012, she hit in the leadoff spot for the Wolfpack. In the 2011 season she reached base in 15 straight games and had 11 multi-hit games.

RTS has confirmed through multiple sources that Greensboro College will name Meredith Mills their new head coach. Mills takes over The Pride after most recently serving as an assistant on the coaching staff at her alma mater North Carolina Wesleyan.

Hofstra has announced the hiring of Kristyn Sandberg as assistant coach. Sandberg joins new head coach Adrienne Clark’s staff coming from leading the program at Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, NY. The former University of Georgia and professional softball standout also has made collegiate coaching stops as part of staffs at LSU and Syracuse.

After nearly a four month search for the new leader of their softball program, UT-Dallas has landed on former volunteer assistant coach Kelly Archer. Archer was on the Comets coaching staff in the volunteer role from 2015-2019. He was part of the staff that led UTD to its only conference championship in 2017. Archer was most recently the head coach at Prince of Peace Christian School in Carrollton, Texas from 2019-2021.

Minnesota-Duluth has named Lynn Anderson their new head coach. Anderson joins the Bulldogs after serving in the same capacity at Grinnell College the past three seasons. Before leading the Pioneers in Iowa, she spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Sources have confirmed to RTS that former Chicago Bandits skipper Darrick Brown will be named to the coaching staff at Stetson. A veteran coach of the sport, Brown led the Bandits to an NPF Championship in 2011. The accomplished men’s fastpitch player has also had collegiate coaching stops at Olivet College, Davenport University, Kellogg Community College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Glen Oaks Community College. He is expected to head up the Hatters pitching staff.

Thomas University Head Coach Bill Wilson has indicated his intentions to retire. The longtime coach took to Social Media on Friday to make the announcement that will be official on September 24. Wilson spent 21 seasons as a collegiate head coach, the last 14 with TU. During that time he compiled a record of 501-426-2.

North Texas has named Jason Gwyn to their coaching staff. Gwyn joins the Mean Green from Hebron High School where he led the softball program from 2017- 2021. He returns to Denton where he spent two seasons as an assistant at Texas Woman’s University. Gwyn also helmed the Austrian National Team in 2008 when the team placed third in the European Championships.

Louisiana-Monroe has announced a three-year contract extension for head coach Molly Fichtner. Her new deal takes her through the 2024 season and pays her a base salary of $65,000. The extension also includes added annual graduated compensation increases along with competition incentives. Fichtner took leadership of the Warhawks beginning with the 2019 season and has compiled a 41-88 overall record while going 14-34 in Sun Belt Conference play.