Even during the ongoing pandemic, the Coaching Carousel never stops winding! There have been quite a number of moves in the assistant’s ranks over the last week or so, and we’ve compiled them into a handy one-stop shop here for you.
Tulsa hires Paige Parker as pitching coach
Parker spent the 2020 season as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater, Oklahoma. The former Woman’s College World Series standout and Sooner great will guide the pitching staff at Tulsa, as she takes the place of Mitch Roberts on the Golden Hurricane staff. One of the best pitchers to grace college softball in recent memory, the job is Parker’s first opportunity to lead her own staff at the D1 level. The hiring should also pay dividends for Tulsa, as it brings in a well-known name that remains extremely popular in the region and will be a draw for potential recruits.
Alcorn State adds Sarai Niu as graduate assistant
Niu is a former Mississippi State Bulldog, having completed her playing career in Starkville with the 2019 season. The Bulldogs’ starting first baseman for much of her career, Niu graduated this spring with her bachelor’s degree and will pursue her Master’s while at Alcorn. The hiring gives the Lady Braves a young coach with a solid resume to help guide their squad. Niu finished her career with a .366 lifetime on-base percentage, in addition to 12 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 26 doubles. She was part of three NCAA tournament-bound teams, in 2017, ’18, and ’19.
Texas names Courtney Gettins as volunteer assistant
The former Alabama pitcher will join the Longhorns’ program as a volunteer assistant and work with the team’s pitching staff. Gettins spent the 2020 season as a graduate assistant at Jacksonville following the completion of her playing career in 2019. She began her career at Florida Southwestern State College before transferring to Alabama, where she completed her playing career. She was part of the Crimson Tide team that reached the Women’s College World Series in 2019.
UT-Arlington appoints Matt Alberghini as assistant coach
Alberghini takes the spot vacated by Bobby Buchanan’s departure earlier in the summer, and joins the Mavericks after a single season on staff at Boston College. Hired to Amy Kvilhaug’s inaugural staff at BC, Alberghini was in a graduate assistant’s position during her abbreviated time with the program. He worked as the hitting coach, as well as with outfielders and catchers, with the Eagles. He previously served on staff at Pittsburgh and Washington.
Jordan Seneca joins Evansville staff
Seneca, one of the finest hitters in Saint Francis program history, joined the Evansville coaching staff as a graduate assistant. She spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at La Salle, and will serve as the second assistant at UE. Seneca was part of the Saint Francis program’s heavy-hitting years in the latter part of the 2010s, helping lead the team to a pair of Northeast Conference championships and NCAA tournament berths in 2017 and ’18. She finished her career with 48 home runs, a program and conference record, and was a two-time all-Region selection during her playing days.
Northern Illinois hires Mickey Bell as assistant coach
Bell joins the Huskies’ program after a stint as volunteer assistant at Florida Atlantic. She spent two seasons on staff at FAU, which is also her alma mater. Prior to her tenure with the Owls, her resume includes a two-year stint as a graduate assistant at Eastern Illinois where she worked with the catchers and outfielders. A former ASun All-Freshman honoree, Bell began her playing career at Lipscomb before finishing her career at FAU.
Eastern Kentucky promotes Robyn Leighton to assistant coach
Leighton spent the 2020 season as a volunteer assistant and director of player development at EKU, and now has been promoted to a full-time assistant coaching role. She worked in a variety of areas during her time as a volunteer assistant, including with the team’s catchers. She previously served a graduate assistantship at Southern Arkansas, where she was part of the staff that led the program to a conference title and NCAA tournament berth.
Chelsey Broermann rejoins Grand Canyon coaching staff
Broermann spent the 2020 season as the volunteer assistant at GCU, and now has been elevated to a full-time role on the staff. She is in the midst of her second stint with the program, after serving as an assistant coach in 2014 and ’15. She was part of the staff that helped lead the Lopes to the conference title in 2014; in her new role at GCU, she will work with the team’s outfielders, catchers, and offense. An Arizona State graduate, her resume also includes a 3-year stint as hitting coach at Georgetown and served on the support staff at Texas and Arizona State.
