Tennessee Softball Coaches Honored by NFCA

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (June 8, 2023) – After main Tennessee softball to a 51-win season, two SEC titles and the Ladies’s School World Collection, the Girl Vols’ teaching employees has been named the ATEC/NFCA Southeast Area Teaching Employees of the 12 months.

Led by head coach Karen Weekly, Tennessee captured its first SEC common season championship since 2007 and its first SEC Match title since 2011. The Girl Vols received each crowns in the identical season for the primary time in program historical past.

UT additionally secured its first 50-win season and reached the nationwide semifinals on the WCWS for the primary time since 2013. The journey to the WCWS was its first since 2015 and its eighth in program historical past.

Weekly was named the SEC Coach of the 12 months for the third time after UT led the SEC wire-to-wire en path to a 19-5 convention file. Beneath her steering, the Girl Vols earned a No. 4 nationwide seed within the NCAA Match – the best seeding in program historical past.

Fearsome on the plate and within the circle, assistant coach Chris Malveaux led an offense that scored 6.87 runs per sport – greatest within the SEC and third nationally. Senior Kiki Milloy set a single-season college file for dwelling runs with 25 – a mark that additionally led the nation.

Sophomore McKenna Gibson had a breakout season as she set career-bests in common (.362), OPS (1.232), runs (36), hits (59), doubles (11), dwelling runs (15), RBIs (60), slugging (.718), walks (39) and on-base share (.514). She additionally recorded a number of RBIs in 14 video games and ended the season on a 23-game reached base streak.

Each Milloy and Gibson have been named NFCA All-Individuals in 2023.

Within the pitcher’s circle, assistant coach Megan Rhodes Smith oversaw a employees that ranked among the many nation’s greatest. The employees completed the season with a 1.75 ERA – rating No. 1 within the SEC and Tenth-best within the NCAA. The pitchers additionally recorded 23 shutouts which tied Auburn for essentially the most within the league and ranked tied for third nationally.

The Girl Vols ranked third within the convention and sixteenth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 3.51.

Ace Ashley Rogers led the employees with a 20-1 file and was named an NFCA First Workforce All-American. Senior Payton Gottshall completed the 12 months 16-2, whereas Karlyn Pickens was named SEC Freshman of the 12 months.

Volunteer assistant Kate Malveaux oversaw the transition of Giulia Koutsoyanopulos from an outfielder to catcher – a place she had by no means performed previous to becoming a member of the Girl Vols. She additionally performed a vital position in serving to Tennessee’s offense flourish in addition to scouting opposing hitters.

This marks the sixth time Tennessee has been named area teaching employees of the 12 months, beforehand profitable the honour in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2013.