Softball and recruiting Kansas girls

[Hovpen]

I think the current girls showed late in the season that they can compete in the league. They just have to get the right motivation and put it together for a whole season. Bringing in a quality pitcher will be key although another year of experience won't hurt what they currently have and they do have another year of experience.

I would think it important to make a hire before the big Colorado ASA tournament.

[Shoxtastic]

Every good athletic director has a "list". In my opinion, here are a few folks who could be on ADES' version along with Chance…

Jennifer Jamie (Florida Assistant Coach)
Probably a major longshot (why would she want to leave Florida?) but she did play at Oklahoma and has roots in the west, so it would bring her a little close to home at least. You probably at least have to make the call, don't you? Just to be sure?

Mary Jo Firnbach (Texas A&M Assistant Coach)
Firnbach had a Hall of Fame career at Southern Illinois, coached at Illinois State and is the former head coach at Syracuse. She was an assistant on the Michigan staff that took the Wolverines to the WCWS in the mid 90s. Her Valley ties make her a natural fit. Her career at Syracuse was so-so.

Jamie Pinkerton (Iowa State Assistant Coach)
Helped ISU to records in hitting in his first year. Former head coach at Arkansas and Tulsa. Took the Hogs to NCAA in '08 and '09. Had a nice career at Tulsa as well. Oklahoma native works to our advantage some, but one has to wonder what went wrong at Arkansas.

Tobin Echo-Hawk (Portland State Head Coach)
Making her second NCAA appearance in three years in the Washington Regional this weekend. Echo-Hawk played at Nebraska, and is a Colorado native. She was an assistant at PSU before being promoted, and was a volunteer assistant at Nebraska as well. Her overall record at PSU is a little underwhelming, but something has to be said for getting teams to the dance.

Tripp MacKay (Oklahoma Assistant Coach)
Looks to be much in the same mold as Tim Walton. Played college and lower level pro ball, and has moved over to the softball side. Melyssa Lombardi appears to be the heir apparent to Gasso, so MacKay might just be looking to get his first DI head coaching gig. He's a Midwest guy and should be able to recruit the area well.

Just my $.02! Pick us out a winner Bobby (ADES)!

[Hovpen]

I'm thinking a woman for some reason.

[1972Shocker]

I would think it important to make a hire before the big Colorado ASA tournament.

Is that the Firecracker Tournament during he first week of July?

[1972Shocker]

I'm thinking a woman for some reason.

The last female coach didn't work out to well. I say go for the best qualified candidate regardless of non-softball issues. If that is a female coach that's fine.

[shoxlax]

Doug would be a great choice. He was an volunteer assistant here under Walton, has numerous local connections as well as overseas contacts. He is a lifelong Wichitan and once he built the program back up (which I no doubt believe he would) there is very little chance ala Tim that he would leave for a different job.

[Shoxtastic]

As a female, I don't care if the next coach is male, female, whatever. I want the best possible candidate we can get. There will be some BCS coaches losing their jobs soon too that we may be looking at. Both Mississippi and Mississippi State fired their coaches already.

If Chance is the man, it's time to get it done. If they are looking for someone with DI experience, expect this to take a few weeks.

[Quick Pitch]

The problem with going after a coach from a BCS conference is that we will have to wait until after the regionals and super regionals to even start the interview process. Also, do we want another coach to use us as a stepping stone?

[Shoxtastic]

I don't agree about the wait. In most cases the majority of candidates we would want to talk to will be finished next weekend at the latest, much less making a deep run in the WCWS.

What coach has used this job as a stepping stone? Tim Walton?

So one out of how many? I'm not sure there are many coaches we can keep if a Florida, Texas, etc. come calling, whether they have local ties or not. If you want success, coaches being courted by BCS schools is part of the game. Just check out all the threads on Gregg Marshall.

If that courting begins, its up to our administration to make it so the coach doesn't want to leave. If Florida hadn't called would Tim Walton still be our coach? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But we are never going to win a battle with a Florida, UCLA, Texas, etc. in softball.

[flyingMoose]

Nikki loves it at Pacific. .374 batting average, 15 doubles, three home runs. 19-9 on the mound and will throw against Stanford on Friday. League champions and was named player of the year.

She pitched very, very well in losing to Stanford, 3-0, last night. All three runs were unearned. She pitched not very well at all today as Pacific was eliminated by Nebraska, 11-1(5).

[Quick Pitch]

What coach has used this job as a stepping stone? Tim Walton?

Yes Tim Walton. The only good coach that we have had.
I just don't want 3 years of building followed by 6 years of decline again. Lets get someone in here with a vision and the ability to recruit, develop, and build a program that he/she wants to stay and own.
With that said, if we get a young coach from a big conference, we know that person is here to simply build a resume.

[JohnnieBallgame]

Has there been any information released relative to who is interviewing for the softball coach? Does the silence mean anything? Are we looking at an assistant from a program still playing?

Let's get it done and start recruiting unless the coach has some unfinished business! :posterwu:

[1972Shocker]

I have not really been following the Women's Softball Tournament but I see the 8 teams heading to the WCWS are set and 4 of those teams are from the Big XII (OU, OSU, Mizzou and Baylor).

They are joined by our old friend Tim Walton at Florida together with fellow SEC member Alabama and two PAC-10 teams (ASU and Cal).

Not a lot of conference diversity represented there but it is what it is. It also could be an indication that we might be waiting on someone to finish playing. And then again, it may mean nothing.

[flyingMoose]

Has there been any information released relative to who is interviewing for the softball coach? Does the silence mean anything? Are we looking at an assistant from a program still playing?

Let's get it done and start recruiting unless the coach has some unfinished business!

... I see the 8 teams heading to the WCWS are set and 4 of those teams are from the Big XII (OU, OSU, Mizzou and Baylor).

They are joined by ... Florida together with fellow SEC member Alabama and two PAC-10 teams (ASU and Cal).

Not a lot of conference diversity represented there but it is what it is. It also could be an indication that we might be waiting on someone to finish playing. And then again, it may mean nothing.

The WCWS is, in part, a coach's convention. (Are there formal meetings?) I suspect a lot of information and opinions about various open coaching positions is shared. I recently overheard a conversation where an assistant coach in the region expressed the idea that WSU was a desirable position: one of the best facilities in the Valley, close enough to Oklahoma and Texas for recruiting (sorry, Hov), pays well. We shall see.

[Quick Pitch]

I have said this before but I hate to see them hire someone who couldn't care less about Shocker softball much less WSU in general, that simply wants to come here to enhance their resume in hopes to get to a "big time" program.
I bleed Black and Gold and I want someone in here who really believes that WSU can be a big time program.

Alright, now you all can pile on.