Softball, mens hoops coaches exit WC; Lady Coyotes honored

Williams named interim head softball coach at WC

The Weatherford College Athletic Department has named Haylee Williams interim head softball coach and Chris Flanagan interim assistant softball coach.

Williams joined WC in the spring of 2011, serving as the program’s first assistant coach. She is replacing Dottie Cupp, who has resigned from the head coach position to pursue other opportunities.

“Coach Williams brings a level of energy and enthusiasm that is contagious to the program,” said assistant athletic director Jeff Lightfoot. “The players have responded to her and are excelling. I am excited about the new direction of our softball program. Coach Williams has responded extremely well to this new challenge.”

Prior to joining WC’s new softball program, Williams worked as an assistant coach at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She excelled as a player at Hill College and then at Henderson State, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Flanagan is moving from the WC baseball program to softball, having served as baseball assistant coach since the fall of 2011. He also has served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds for the last three years. Flanagan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Lamar University, where he pitched before a five-year stint playing in professional independent baseball leagues.

Osina returns to WC basketball

WC has announced the return of longtime basketball coach Mark Osina to its athletic department. Osina is now serving as interim head mens basketball coach, replacing Larry Holman, who resigned to pursue other opportunities.

“For me, having Mark back is a blessing,” Athletic Director and womens coach Bob McKinley said. “I trust him right off the bat with responsibility in game planning, workouts, discipline, or anything else that comes up. It’s good to have him back at WC.”

Osina began coaching at WC in 1991, initially as assistant coach under McKinley, eventually moving to head mens coach.

During Osina’s years as head coach, the Coyotes won six conference championships, a regional championship and a national third-place finish in the 1999 NJCAA tournament. He was named Conference Coach of the Year three times and was a finalist for National Coach of the Year.

He left Weatherford in 2008 to take an assistant coaching job at Mercer University, an NCAA Division I program in Macon, Georgia. He returned to the Parker County area recently and took the position of athletic director for the Millsap ISD.

Lady Coyotes Day

Weatherford Mayor Dennis Hooks and the City Council applauded the Weatherford College Lady Coyote basketball team last week for winning another conference championship, their 11th title under McKinley. The council declared Feb. 26 “Weatherford College Lady Coyotes Day” in their honor. WC begins the Region V Tournament in Lubbock on Thursday.

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