The COVID-19 pandemic cast a wide shadow, and many uncertainties remain about the long-term effects brought on by the pandemic. With financial hardships and a variety of plans for how the 2021 season will look, the transfer market over the summer was not as plentiful and healthy as has been the case in years prior. Even still, there were a number of high-level athletes who chose to change schools ahead of the ’21 campaign, and some schools planted themselves firmly in the category of “buyers” on the transfer market. While a number of players remain uncommitted and in the transfer…
Author: jmcleod
Central Arkansas has hired Kayla Lucas as their new volunteer assistant coach, sources confirmed to JWOS. Lucas spent the last five seasons as the head coach at Division II Young Harris College, posting a career record of 173-78 during her tenure with the Mountain Lions. The program reached the NCAA tournament each year under her guidance, and played in the D2 National Championship in 2019. Lucas and her staff also earned Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors from the NFCA during that 2019 season. In November 2020, Lucas was surprisingly and suddenly let go from her position at…
During her three years at Alabama, Brynne Dordel’s name seemed to pop up anytime a Power Five pitching coach position opened. With several years of coaching experience already under her belt, Dordel presented an attractive candidacy for jobs but each time, she remained on staff in Tuscaloosa. Officially the Tide’s volunteer assistant coach, Dordel took on a general coaching role during her tenure. Though a pitching coach by trade, she primarily worked with the team’s catchers, assisted with the Tide’s infield work, and also helped with the offensive approach. The role gave her a unique view of the full spectrum…
Brandi Stuart will join the athletic administration at Texas Tech, the school announced on Tuesday evening. Stuart will hold the titles of Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator. “Well, now that it’s Twitter official, I can share my excitement in joining the [Texas Tech] family and the opportunity to contribute to the success of Red Raider Nation!” Stuart wrote on Twitter following the official announcement. Stuart, a former softball player, most recently was part of the athletic administration at UCF, where she held a variety of titles since her arrival in Orlando in 2015. She also served…
The schedule has been released. Teams are opening spring practice, and many have already gotten some good time in on the field. All signs are pointing to a “full go” start for college softball in the SEC next month. As the league’s thirteen teams get set for the 2021 campaign, questions still remain. While some question marks are shared – lingering effects of the ongoing pandemic, the enforcement of COVID protocols, and travel restrictions among them – each team also has their own unique issues that relate to on-field performance. In the first of a continuing series within our preseason…
Charleston Southern has named Christi Musser as the program’s new head coach. Musser spent the last six years on staff at Grand Canyon, most recently serving as the program’s associate head coach. She was the Lopes’ hitting coach, and guided the offense to a top-15 national ranking in total offense from 2016-18. “I couldn’t be more excited to be a named the head softball coach at Charleston Southern University,” Musser said in a school statement. “I love the family atmosphere, the focus on faith, and truly believe in the vision and mission of the University. I look forward to being…
Texas “super senior” pitcher Miranda Elish has opted out of the 2021 season. In a statement released by Texas, Elish said, “After all my years of playing the game I love, this message comes with deep sadness and a very heavy heart. It was a decision that I’ve thought long and hard about, and unfortunately due to situations surrounding me, I feel it is in my best interest to not participate in the 2021 season because of my concerns over COVID-19. Thank you for all the love and support now and in the past, it will be forever remembered. Thank…
Former Alabama athletic director Bill Battle was directly responsible for the Crimson Tide’s softball seniors being able to return to play in 2021, according to Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy. In his press conference on Friday, Murphy thanked Battle by name for his contributions that allowed the Tide’s seven seniors to take advantage of the NCAA’s extended eligibility waiver following the abrupt end to the 2020 season. “Thank you to Mr. Bill Battle.. he was the hero for us this year,” Murphy said at one point during his presser. “He donated the money for our seven seniors to come back.…
La Salle has announced the departure of head coach Brooke Darreff and the promotion of Sarah Prezioso to the role of interim head coach. The 2021 season will be the last for the La Salle softball program, after the school announced the elimination of the program last fall. Prezioso was hired as an assistant coach with the program in August, just weeks before the announcement of the shuttering of the program, and now will lead the team in their final season. Joining Prezioso’s staff for the 2021 season is Erica Molinaro, an alumnus of East Stroudsburg. She previously coached at…
On April 27, 2011, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies softball team split a doubleheader against Michigan State in Lansing. That victory would stand as Oakland’s only win over a Power Five program for the entirety of the 2010s decade. When that win went into the record books for the Golden Grizzlies, Lauren Cognigni was a 3rd-year assistant coach at Marist College, and Sydney Campbell was in elementary school. Fast-forward a decade to the present day, and Cognigni is now Lauren Karn, head coach of the OU softball team. Campbell, now a super-freshman pitcher, is the fast-emerging ace of the Golden Grizzlies’ pitching…