In December of 2016, the University of North Alabama announced intentions to leave the Division II ranks to move to the Division I level and the Atlantic Sun conference.
The announcement came just months after the UNA softball program had reached the pinnacle of Division II softball by winning the national championship in May. Lions head coach Ashley Cozart, now in her sixth season at the program’s helm and who led the team to the 2016 national title, never doubted her team’s ability to play at a new level.
“We were definitely excited [about the move to Division I],” Cozart said earlier this season. “We knew that we had put together a strong core group, and had gotten better every year. It was a culture and a mentality for us, and I think we all knew right away that we could be successful, and that we had the confidence and the culture that we needed to move up.”
After the news broke of UNA’s eventual Division I destination, the Lions still played two more D2 seasons in 2017 and 2018 before the transition began with the 2018-19 athletics year. The Lions made the NCAA tournament in both seasons, but failed to return to the D2 World Series, falling in the regional round each time.
With the dawning of the 2019 calendar year came the Lions’ introduction to Division I play. Beginning their D1 tenure in Birmingham – just hours from their Florence, Alabama home – the Lions didn’t waste any time notching their first win at the D1 level. Behind the stellar arm of junior ace Megan Garst, the Lions shutout out the Blazers en route to a 1-0 opening day victory.
After her team posted a perfect 5-0 record in the opening weekend tournament, later notching wins over Portland State, Memphis, and Murray State in non-conference play, Cozart talked about her team’s immediate success in Division I: “It definitely hasn’t surprised me… It was more that there was so much unknown in this transition; all of these ballparks, stadiums that we hadn’t played in before. We didn’t know anything about these teams, and we were so used to our certain rivals and travel schedule and everything in Division II, so this was just brand new all across the board. With that unknown, it’s a big thing on how our kids take it.”
Another wrinkle, Cozart added, was scheduling. The Lions started the season with back-to-back in-state tournaments, but didn’t play at home until early March, and will play just nine games total in Florence this season, including in conference play.
“For scheduling, I wanted us to have some tough teams, but I also wanted to have some teams that we could compete with and beat. At the end of the day, I think it’s all about confidence. We’re confident, but so much more when we succeed. I wanted to have some games that we could win, but get better from… I also wanted some tough teams that, win or lose, they’re going to help us get better.”
“It was tough getting home games, being a transitioning Division II to Division I,” Cozart added. “We’ve played on the road so much this year, and you always want to see how your kids respond to that. I think that’s what I’m most proud with our girls; whether we’re playing on the road or at home, they’re in every game and they give it their all. What I love most about this team is the will to get better.”
Whether celebrating a big home run or a clutch strikeout, one hallmark of the Lions is their high energy level. That’s something that Cozart says she and her coaching staff embody and encourage in their team.
“I think having that high energy is just so important,” Cozart said. “We talk a lot about celebrating the little things, and we felt that one of the biggest things in going from Division II to Division I is the little things. Making sure we take advantage of situations, getting outs, taking outs away. [For our coaching staff], we try to have high energy when we do those little things because we feel like that motivates our team and our girls… sometimes, there are moments and games that you need as a ballclub that give you that confidence. And we have such a fun team… when we play with high energy, we’re loose and excited and happy, and just a much better ball club.”
Despite sporting a sub-.500 conference record after some early struggles in ASun play, the Lions are coming off of a series win over Kennesaw State last weekend. The squad has gone 4-2 against in-state opponents and boast a team slugging percentage of .361, with a team ERA of 2.68. As her team continues to compete, Cozart says her squad’s youth – they have just two seniors – is a bright spot as the season goes on.
““If you look at our lineup right now, we’ve got underclassmen all over, a lot of freshmen and sophomores. These tough games are good for us. They’re going to come back next year, and they’re going to know what the pitching is like and what they have to do. Even when the confidence and experience isn’t there, I really believe that switch is going to be flipped going into next year and that’s going to be huge for us.”
As part of the transition to the Division I level, the Lions will not be eligible to compete in the NCAA postseason for a four-year period. Standard for teams moving to a higher division or level of play, this means that none of the team’s current roster will be eligible to play in the NCAA tournament during a four-year career. Because of the team’s membership in the ASun conference, however, the Lions can qualify and participate in the conference tournament beginning immediately, which is something Cozart says is a big positive for her team.
“I think that, if you think about [not being able to play in the NCAA postseason], it is tough,” Cozart said. “But our goal also has changed a little bit. At Division II, our goal was to win the national championship. Now, at Division I, our goal is to win the conference tournament. That is our national championship, and that’s what we are shooting for. It’s not that our will to win or to win every game has changed, it’s just that we had to bring that to the conference tournament. That’s our championship.”
Through the transition process and the highs and lows on the diamond, Cozart gives credit to a large, mobile fan base for their support. “We have had huge support. Our season opener against UAB, I saw more purple in the stands than I did green,” she said. “I think that really helps when we play on the road, because of the support we have, the fans that are yelling. We are super blessed to have the community around us and the vocal support that we do, and it’s always nice to see purple in the stands for sure!”
Now in the season’s home stretch, and with the end of the team’s inaugural Division I campaign in sight, the Lions have shown that they’re not just a team moving up to occupy the conference cellar. No, they’ve got winning on their minds.
