First-year UTA softball coach wants Mavericks to learn a new culture

Posted Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 0 comments  Print Reprints
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By John Henry

Special to the Star-Telegram

UT Arlington's softball program begins anew in 2013 with fresh faces throughout the roster, including that of its new and engaging coach.

Kristie Fox, a former All-American and two-time national champion at Arizona, takes over a program with a unique can-do enthusiasm.

Or is that a will-do enthusiasm?

It almost certainly won't be this season. UTA is coming off a 15-27 record and a 5-15 mark in the Southland Conference, so the odds are against a winning season at Allan Saxe Field this season.

That doesn't mean her Mavericks won't achieve, the first-year coach said.

"I have no number in mind," said Fox, when asked about what a successful season might look like in terms of number of wins. "I want them to compete and leave it on the field."

Fox, who set a record as a senior at Arizona with 11 hits in the 2007 Women's College World Series, said one advantage her team has is that most of the Western Athletic Conference teams "don't know a lot about us."

The season starts at 8:30 this morning against Buffalo in the Central Florida Holiday Inn Select tournament in Orlando, Fla.

The Mavericks will also play Central Florida at 12:30 p.m. today before games Saturday and Sunday against Florida A&M, Stetson and USC.

Last season ended in turmoil.

Coach Debbie Headrick resigned before the conclusion of her 17h year at the school and some player defections followed after the season.

Fox said her first objective is to change the culture of the program and instill an understanding of what it takes "to play Division I softball."

Junior Callie Collins, Southland Conference pitcher of the year as a freshman, and senior Teri Lyles of Keller return as pitchers.

So does senior shortstop Kallan Thompson. First baseman Nina Villanueva, a sophomore transfer from San Diego, is a newcomer, but she'll be a big piece of the Mavericks' season, Fox said.

"They believe in themselves," Fox said of her team. "These are the girls I want to go to war with."

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