Rounding Third Softball

Two-time national champion pitcher Paige Parker is joining the coaching staff at Utah. Parker, the former Oklahoma Sooner, will direct the Utes pitchers. She spent the 2021 season working with the pitching staff at Tulsa. Parker also previously worked on staffs at her alma mater OU and at William Jewell College.

After accepting the head coaching position at NAIA Avila University in Kansas City last month, Heidi Jordan is now on the move again going cross-town to DII Rockhurst University. Jordan had spent 18 highly successful years at Highland Community College in Kansas amassing 576 wins before departing earlier this summer.

Holy Cross head coach Jen Lapicki has announced her resignation. She led the Crusaders the last five seasons amassing a 49-127 record. Lapicki had one year left on her current contract, but indicated she stepped down to pursue other professional opportunities.

New Samford head coach Kimball Cassady has officially announced the hiring of Jeff Gillespie to her coaching staff. Gillespie joins the Bulldogs after working as an assistant for Cassady at Birmingham-Southern the last four seasons. He helped lead BSC to unparalleled success cumulating with a 33-8 record in 2021 and a semifinal appearance in the Division III Women’s College World Series.

Former Florida Gator and two-time National Champion Chelsea Herndon has been named head coach at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas. The Hebron alum had been an assistant coach with the program and on the faculty at the school. Herndon is probably best known for her heroic pinch-hit, walk off grand slam vs. Baylor during Florida’s 2014 WCWS title run.

Sources have confirmed to RTS that University of Mary’s Steph Roan stepped down from her position as head coach yesterday to join the coaching staff at Buffalo. Roan spent three seasons leading UMary and compiled a record of 42-70. She now joins Coach Mike Ruechel’s staff with the Bulls that finished the 2021 season 18-35.

Tiffin University has announced the resignation of Jeff Nickerson as head coach. Nickerson led the Dragons for 14 seasons winning 321 games while reaching the NCAA Postseason twice. He leaves coaching with a career record of 489-403-1 to pursue family business ventures. Nickerson also had head coaching stops at Ohio Northern and Presbyterian College.

Alex Mascarenas has been promoted to head coach at Marymount California University. Mascarenas had joined the staff back in July as an assistant coach. He came to the program at MCU after serving on staff at Cal JC powerhouse Mt. San Antonio College, including a stint as interim head coach. He helped guide Mt. SAC to a pair of California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Softball State Championships in 2018 and 2019. Mascarenas comes from a family deeply rooted in the sport. His sister Toni was a three-time All-American at the University of Arizona, while his niece Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza was an All-American for the Wildcats and is now on the coaching staff at Oregon.

The Colorado School of Mines has named Mike Coutts their new head coach. Coutts heads to the Rocky Mountain DII school after serving as head coach at DI Maine for the past six seasons. He led the Black Bears to the 2016 America East Conference title and the NCAA Postseason.

Longtime Mississippi Valley State Head Coach Lee Smith has stepped down announcing his retirement from coaching. Smith lead the Devilettes for 19 seasons winning eight Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships and appearing in the NCAA Postseason after each of those titles. He was named SWAC Coach of the Year on nine occasions during his tenure. Smith also served as Associate Athletic Director at MVSU, a role he will continue in moving forward.