juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com, Beth Maries has churned up a new flavor, North of Ordinary, to represent Denton, River otters documented for first time at Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, Denton man sentenced to life in prison for murder of 7-year-old boy, Abbott calls for public school vouchers, but Denton ISD officials and a local legislator arent so sure, UNT lands highly regarded junior point guard Jaylen Washington, State leaders vow to exclude renewable energy from any revived economic incentive program, Author of Texas drag bill says video of him wearing dress was a joke back in school. The Mean Green finished 25-27 in Kees final season this spring. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. Even though we didnt win that (second) game, we never let up that entire time.. Make sure you're prepared with the Denton Record-Chronicle's coverage of Denton County's key races, and the candidates in the running for them. Its how we act and mesh as a team. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. Its something we are doing.. Bryant coached UNTs outfielders and assisted with the teams offensive approach. The official Softball Coach List for the University of North Texas Mean Green. By Brooke Colombo Chance of rain 90%.. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Staff Writer The Lawton native came to UNT after one season as the head coach at Austin Peay largely to return to a part of the country he considers home. I believe with the depth of quality recruits available in the North Texas region and the resources we are investing into this program we can compete for conference championships, Baker said. Jennifer McFalls finished her fourth season at the helm of the Kansas softball program in 2022 after being hired by the University of Kansas on Aug. 20, 2018. Staff Writer Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. OF Jr. 5' 8'' Silver Lake JR/SR HS Silver Lake, KS. The following is the preseason Conference USA softball poll as voted on by the leagues head coaches. The investigations report described an emotionally hostile environment and potential secondary NCAA violations. Results May 06 Softball Final vs. Grayson College L, 7-3 @ McKinney, TX Box Score May 05 Softball Final During the season, McFalls coached the team to . Make sure you're prepared with the Denton Record-Chronicle's coverage of Denton County's key races, and the candidates in the running for them. Several of those veterans were included in C-USAs Preseason All-Conference Team. The deal has several incentives, including an additional months salary for winning the Conference USA title and $2,000 for being named the leagues coach of the year. DeLong was named the C-USA Coach of the Year after the Mean Green won the leagues regular season title in his debut campaign in 2019. Growing up in Lawton, Oklahoma, University of North Texas head softball coach Rodney DeLong was a die-hard Oklahoma Sooners football fan. North Texas softball coach Rodney DeLong has signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him in Denton through the 2025 season. Talent isnt the most important thing. UNT sports information North Texas coach Rodney. SSE winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 25 to 35 mph. I didnt know how good we would be, DeLong said of that first season. And its not just talk. New Boston, TX . Its one of the core values players at North Texas have come to expect, along with a selfless mentality. DeLong added transfers from two Big 12 programs who will make an immediate impact: pitcher Gigi Wall (Texas Tech), and Tuesday DerMargosian, an outfielder from Texas. Cat Osterman, a former three-time National Player of the Year, four-time All-American and two-time Olympic medalist, is in her sixth season as an assistant coach, third as associate head coach, for the Bobcats where she serves as the pitching coach. SOFTBALL As Texas softball readies for home opener, coach Mike White catching heat Thomas Jones Austin American-Statesman 0:02 0:49 After a controversial end to its season-opening. Invalid password or account does not exist. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. Im not going to be surprised when we get everyones best, Gamble said. They share the same vision. We want to win this league every year, but we also have bigger goals.. Go To Coaching Staff. SSE winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 25 to 35 mph. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. North Texas is a great program. Thompson pitched three innings, allowing just two runs on six hits. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. The Denton Record-Chronicle obtained DeLongs latest extension through an open records request. Illinois and Penn State joined an exclusive group with the Illini's 20-18 win in a nine-overtime thriller on Oct. 23, 2021. He has worked for Arizona PBS, Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and the Cape Cod Baseball League. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Kee signed a one-year contract extension last spring. bvito@dentonrc.com. Bio. High 76F. A native of Charlotte, N.C., Freeman graduated from East Carolina in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. She is an awesome coach and has been great for a really long time, UNT outfielder Katie Clark said after the game. We had a pretty young team that made the run last year in the regional, DeLong said shortly after the national poll was released. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Under her guidance, the Leopards posted a sterling 413-127 overall record (.765) and a 237-47 (.835) North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) mark while securing five league titles (2011, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) and the 2018 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) D1 National Championship. Donnie Randell: Assistant Coach. Follow him on Twitter @ZachPekale. And of her 21 strikeouts, only four were of thelooking variety. In 2020 the Mean Green made it back-to-back years with a win over a top-10 ranked Louisiana team, this time knocking off the Ragin Cajuns 2-1 in Lafayette on Feb. 8. cbreeding@dentonrc.com. Staff Writer Name Title Phone E . Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. The 2015 squad posted a school-record 41 wins, including a program-record 17-game winning streak, and reached the South Central Regional final. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Its something we have worked for and set our sights on since we got here. We have learned and grown while playing for coach DeLong. Subscribe to get the best softball coverage. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. Three separate outbreaks put many of the players into quarantine, wiping out fall ball. bvito@dentonrc.com, By Brooke Colombo Error! 1 Oklahoma softball behind 4-run inning, 2023 Clearwater Invitational: Schedule, scores, how to watch, The college softball mercy rule, explained, Oklahoma softball: The all-time starting lineup, The top college softball non-conference tournaments and games to watch this season, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. UNTs coach had a vision of what UNT could be back then. juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com, Beth Maries has churned up a new flavor, North of Ordinary, to represent Denton, River otters documented for first time at Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, Denton man sentenced to life in prison for murder of 7-year-old boy, Abbott calls for public school vouchers, but Denton ISD officials and a local legislator arent so sure. North Texas jumped out to an early lead before OU exploded for six runs in the fourth. Get the most important Softball stories delivered straight to your inbox. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Phone. 1 UCLA Vs. No. The culture Cobb talked about is just as important. The moment seemed unimaginable just four short years ago before DeLong arrived and set about rebuilding a program that had posted just four winning seasons under four coaches in 15 years. The specific purpose of the North Texas Fastpitch Coaches Association (NTFCA) is to promote the game of fast-pitch softball by providing fast-pitch coaches and athletes the support and necessary resources to improve overall skills, training and level of competition. . Pitcher/utility player Molly Rainey recently joined the program after transferring from Central Florida. Kee came to UNT to start over in 2014 and got off to a promising start, finishing 31-22 in her first season. Dillon is a great friend and coach, DeLong said. Im excited about the future and having some stability with my family.. She will have an immediate impact on our program, and we are eager to welcome her to Austin and the Forty Acres.". An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. North Texas softball coach Rodney DeLong has signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him in Denton through the 2025 season. Aliyah Boston collected her 16th straight double-double against a ranked opponent with No. 5 Oklahoma on the road. That set up a showdown with OU the following day. Skip to main content. We feel like we can be a perennial top 25 program, given our location, if we fund it the right way, Baker said. Staff Writer UNT had hoped that milestones would come more quickly when Kee arrived at the school. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 1, 2016. History is unique. . Tracey Kee resigned as North Texas softball coach Wednesday after a fourth straight losing season. The Governors snapped a run of 24 straight losing seasons when they went 39-19 in their lone season under DeLong in 2018. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Low 57F. The 39-19 record in his first season with the Governors marked a 22-win improvement, the largest in NCAA Division I softball this year. DeLongs salary under terms of the deal will begin at $140,000 and increase $5,000 annually. Instead of starting his ace, Hope Trautwein, DeLong decided to go with freshman Ariel Thompson. No team in the North Texas athletic program had ever beaten a top-5 opponent on the road. Error! Seven innings pitched. We came in with a vision and have done really well in recruiting, DeLong said. The measures were taking, always wearing our masks, staying six feet apart, we have hand sanitizer were doing all thats necessary so we can keep everybody healthy and well, Callahan explained. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. The Mean Green entered the season under pressure to break through after failing to post a winning record in each of the previous three years. DeLong graduated from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and has family in the area. High 72F. He is in his fifth season at the helm of North Texas softball. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito. Oklahoma Louisiana and Texas players and. Dillon Bryant confirmed on Tuesday that he is leaving the program after three seasons to pursue other opportunities. This fall, the team took a direct hit from COVID-19. But DeLong and his players had no room for such thoughts as they prepared for the matchup. Site Navigation. I bought into that. So it was only fitting that on February 29, 2020, DeLong would lead his team to victory over the school he rooted for as a boy while making history at the same time. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. UNT softball coach DeLong signs extension through 2024. We won't share it with anyone else. I knew it would take a bullpen effort to keep them off-balance the best we could.. The upcoming season contains a lot of question marks, both on and off the field. They were great to me. Choose wisely! Northeast Texas Community College is pleased to announce the hiring of Joshua Freeman as the new Head Coach of the Eagles softball team after a nationwide search. Coach DeLong preaches about the importance of character, bonding and playing together, UNT center fielder Lexi Cobb said. I cannot thank my staff, my student-athletes and those associated with the program enough for their dedication and hard work.. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Coaching Staff . UNT finished 5-19 in C-USA play and failed to advance to the conference tournament in 2016. Rodney and his wife Meghann have two children, their son Ryker and daughter Kaiya. "We are very excited to announce the addition of Kristen Zaleski to our Longhorns family," White said. Nebraska head coach Rhonda Revelle, and pitchers Olivia Ferrell and Courtney Wallace speak following the North Texas vs. Nebraska NCAA tournament regional softball game at Oklahoma State. UNT made a run to the final of the Stillwater Regional of the NCAA tournament last season, when the Mean Green made their first regional appearance. UNT has also replaced the outfield fences and recently installed hitting cages at the venue. Schoblocher was coming off one of the best individual seasons in program history, hitting .389 with 17 home runs. Staff Writer Chance of rain 90%. Staff Writer Football offensive . I have to have freedom to be able to learn and mature as a softball player, and (he) does a great job of working with all the players and allowing us to be mature at our own time.. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions. She got 17 Golden Lions to go down swinging, including the first 10 batters faced as well as six of the final nine. Rodney DeLong slowly lifted a fist into the air on Sunday as members of the North Texas softball team jumped out of their seats. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. To see it all come together at the right time is pretty special.. Breeding-Gonzales The girls are ready. He will be missed for sure. It will face North Texas (35-14) at 5 p.m. Friday in the first round after the . Oklahoma reclaims top spot in latest college softball rankings, Recapping a wild first two weeks of college softball w/ D1Softball's Tara Henry, 2023 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic: Schedule, times, how to watch the college softball tournament, Monica Abbott's college stats, career records, quotes, best moments, UCLA bumps Oklahoma from the top spot in the college softball rankings, Baylor shocks No. The team really bought in. We have gotten better in dealing with that. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito. Invalid password or account does not exist. In his inaugural season, DeLong led the program to its first winning season since 2009 with a 31-21 record. The NTFCA is dedicated to improving the game through improved training and . An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. What hes accomplished in his tenure at UNT has helped him bring in players like Rainey, who was the C-USA tournament MVP. APSU won a program-record three games on its way to a school-best third-place finish at the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, and the Governors earned an at-large bid into the National Invitational Softball Championship. We have won three championships in three seasons and have won consistently. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Texas Woman's University. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Create a password that only you will remember. Only two other players in NCAA DI softball history had recorded21 strikeouts in a seven-inning game before Trautwein. Low 42F. The 2022 season saw the Jayhawks finish with a 20-36 overall record, marking only the third-complete season KU has seen under McFalls. 2005 Westminster Ct. UNT rallied in its final at-bat but still lost 9-6. Perfection is a phenomena. Baker estimates that UNT has spent close to $1.5 million on Lovelace Stadium since DeLongs arrival. She's the hardest worker on our team, she brings it every day and she deserves all the credit and all the success in the world.". The things we ask for, we get. We won't share it with anyone else. Catcher Kalei Christensen, infielder Kailey Gamble, outfielder Lexi Cobb and pitcher Skylar Savage joined Peters on the all-league team. The Papillion-La Vista grad didn't puke, not even when Nebraska (40-14) learned its draw 15 minutes into the show. Louisiana Tech won the regular season C-USA title. His writing has also appeared on FOX Sports, Bleacher Report and at the Associated Press. None of those facility upgrades would have moved UNTs program forward had it not been for the way a host of talented players bought into what DeLong was selling. Rain. In her only full non-COVID season in charge in 2021, Zaleski's squad registered 18 wins, marking the most single-season victories for the program since 2016, while also setting a program record with five consecutive shutout triumphs. Breeding-Gonzales The Lawton, Oklahoma native graduated from Cameron University in 2006 with a bachelors degree in history before receiving his Masters of Education in sports administration at East Central University in 2013. North Texas picked to win Conference USA softball title in preseason coaches' poll By Brett Vito Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com Jan 26, 2023 Brett Vito UNT Athletics reporter Follow Brett. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. For (the kids) to get to see how it changed practice, how it could affect our lineup for those 10 or 14 days, that really helped prepare us a lot for what were looking at now, DeLong said. The team posted program-best marks in batting average (.290), slugging percentage (.512), runs scored (297), home runs (71), RBI (274) and total bases (707). The Mean Green have won three C-USA championships under coach Rodney DeLong and recently cracked the national Top 25 when D1Softball slated UNT at No. UNTs coach had gathered with his players at the North Texas Athletic Center to experience program history together when the NCAA revealed the fields for this weeks regional tournaments. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. The Mean Green won its first outright conference championship, with three players earning conference superlative awards and seven players named to all-conference teams, both program-best marks. During his time at Virginia Wesleyan Coach Freeman helped lead the team to the 2017 NCAA Division III National Championship and the coaching staff was selected as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Coaching Staff of the Year. The victory marked the 50th career win for the Mean Green skipper, making him the fastest coach in North Texas softball history to reach the 50-win mark. Bryant also worked under UNT coach Rodney DeLong at Austin Peay and Cameron. Title. He began his collegiate career at Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa, earning second-team all-region honors after batting .390 with 10 home runs and 56 RBI as a sophomore. The challenge is one UNT has been preparing to tackle. The Mean Green enter the year as the team everyone else in C-USA is chasing. All the seniors from last years squad opted not to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility allowed by the NCAA. California's Michele Granger, the NCAA's leader in career no-hitters, was the first and completed the featin one of her 25 no-hitters. Sports. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. Also on her coaching resume was an August 2005-May 2006 stint as a graduate assistant at Texas State. The North Texas softball team is losing one of its longtime assistant coaches. In all, her teams won four Region V North Championships and made four national tournament appearances (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019). For his part, DeLong is glad the outbreaks occurred during the fall, not the season itself. You cant do it without the support of the administration and the financial backing. That was huge for our growth and development. Academic Year Hometown / High School; 1: Daphne Bogenschutz: RHP-So. From day one, I wanted to win championships here. 24 in its preseason poll. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. While the final season of Kees tenure at UNT didnt go as planned, she did reach a milestone by winning the 800th game of her college coaching career during a three-game sweep of Mississippi Valley State in April. Mikaela Olguin. North Texas picked to win Conference USA softball title in preseason coaches' poll. The North Texas softball team will open the season nationally ranked for the first time. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. We will keep climbing the ladder.. His strategy paid off. Enter your information to receive emails about offers, promotions from NCAA.com and our partners. Coach Freeman comes to lead the Eagle Softball program from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Welcome to the 2022 high school season as it pertains to the national rankings compiled by Extra Inning Softball.. As in previous seasons of the Extra Elite 80, there's going to be 80 teams mentioned in each installment, but the teams will be ranked in order for the first . The UNT athletic department will immediately begin a search for a new coach to lead the program. In his first collegiate coaching stop, DeLong compiled a 106-61 (.635) record at Cameron University and led the Aggies to consecutive NCAA Division II Softball Tournament appearances for the first time in program history. There is more to UNTs success than just recruiting talented players. The school added a building with a ticket booth and restroom facilities to Lovelace Stadium in the summer of 2015. Staff Writer Year three of the DeLong experience in Denton featured more improvement, leading the team to its highest win total in program history with 38 as he earned C-USA Coach of the Year honors for the second time. Growing up in Lawton, Oklahoma, University of North Texas head softball coach Rodney DeLong was a die-hard Oklahoma Sooners football fan. It was an awesome win, especially as a team, recalled Evans, who hit .314 and started all 24 games during the shortened season. Rainfall around a half an inch. In his final season, the Aggies went 33-21 and 18-14 in the Lone Star Conference, good for a program-best third-place finish in conference. It made us exponentially better playing for each other in every aspect of the game.. Skip to main content. Chance of rain 90%. There was an error processing your request. We have worked together for a long time. Phone: 940-369-7822 Bio The University of North Texas named Rodney DeLong as its fifth head softball coach, University President Neal Smatresk and Director of Athletics Wren Baker announced June 13, 2018. A three-time NTJCAC Coach or Co-Coach of the Year, Zaleski's 2018 staff was rewarded for its national title run by being voted as the NFCA NJCAA DI National Coaching Staff of the Year. At CNU,Freeman helped lead the Captains to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Super Regionals in 2019. High 76F. We won't share it with anyone else. I have no ill will. UNT softball continued its progression in 2022 when DeLong led his team to its first NCAA Regionals appearance after capturing the Conference USA tournament title. Please invite only players over 40 years old. It helped UNT get through the tough times all teams experience. Georgia Techs defense ranked 59th nationally in double plays per game (0.40). "We're. Along the way, the Sooners held the No. They split the first two games, falling to Northwestern in the opener before beating Abilene Christian. UNT is entering its last season in C-USA before jumping to the American Athletic Conference this summer. They won 13 of their first 15 games, the best 15-game start in school history. Lexi Cobb. Cloudy skies this afternoon. UNT started the season 13-2, which was the best 15-game start in program history and finished with a 19-5 record. Hes found the right players, sold them on playing for UNT, fostered the winning culture Cobb talked about and convinced Baker and the rest of UNTs administration that investing in softball is the right move. I am in full support of his new endeavors and wish him the very best.. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. UNT came back from a three-run deficit to beat Charlotte 6-3 in its tournament opener. Trautwein went the final two innings to nail down the save. AUSTIN, Texas Texas head softball coach Mike White announced on Friday that recent Oklahoma volunteer assistant and former Texas A&M-Corpus Christi & Temple College head coach Kristen Zaleski is heading to the Forty Acres to join his staff as an assistant coach with the Longhorns. Asst softball coach 2: $120,000. Breeding-Gonzales UNT added a Softball Customer Service Center in the summer of 2015; the venue includes a ticket booth and permanent restrooms. The game was 3-3 in the sixth when senior outfielder Kenzie Young hit a sacrifice fly that scored first baseman Tayla Evans to put the Mean Green ahead 4-3. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. DeLong was named Conference Coach of the Year, while Trautwein and senior outfielder Katie Clark were first-team All-Conference selections. The official Softball Coach List for the University of North Texas Mean Green. Of course, coaches for Texas' beloved game of football topped the highest-paid list, thanks to powerhouses Mack Brown, Kevin Sumlin and Charlie Strong, who brought in more than $5 million each. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. That number might be a bit anomalous considering there were just four in 2018 and two in 2017 according to the NCAA record book. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Texas Glory Fastpitch Softball Club in North Texas. Athlete Tracey Kee resigned as North Texas' softball coach Wednesday after a fourth straight losing season. UNT hopes to renovate the dugouts at Lovelace before next season. She set numerous TXST single-season and career program records and finished as the Southland Conference's career leader in both hits (291) and stolen bases (128). Rain. The Mean Green will open C-USA play when they travel to Louisiana Tech for a three-game series on March 10. "I am grateful for the opportunity that Coach White has given me to join the Longhorns family," Zaleski said. Collegiately at Texas State, Zaleski was a two-time NFCA All-American as a player for the Bobcats while twice earning both Southland Conference Player & Hitter of the Year honors (2003 & 2004). Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. What UNT has done so far has already given the program a boost. 940-668-4286: vhedrick@nctc.edu: Margaret Brown: Administrative Secretary . Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. Kee was unable to sustain the momentum UNT established during her debut campaign and struggled to retain players throughout her tenure. By Brett Vito 1. Make sure you're prepared with the Denton Record-Chronicle's coverage of Denton County's key races, and the candidates in the running for them. When he began coaching softball, DeLong, now in his third season with the Mean Green, looked up to Sooners head softball coach Patty Gasso. Third person in Division II and 6th person in NCAA history to hit 2 Grand-slams in one inning. Asst. Success! 5' 4'' Three weeks before knocking off Oklahoma, they edged a top 10-ranked Louisiana team 2-1 in Lafayette, marking the second win in as many seasons against the Ragin Cajuns. West Columbia, TX / Columbia High School: 3: Lani Green: RHP-So. 2006-Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. Texas Glory Fastpitch Softball Club. What they have contributed has really helped the program develop.. That is overlooked by a lot of people. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. UNT athletic director Wren Baker was hoping for rapid improvement when he hired DeLong. Now,forget the perfect game for just a moment. North Texas Head Coach Rodney DeLong joins the D1Softball Podcast this week. We won't share it with anyone else. NCAA tournament bids are what Baker was hoping for back when he hired DeLong. Choose wisely! Savage went 15-8 with a 2.64 ERA. Coach DeLong said we are going to win championships, Rainey said. No other team in C-USA had more than two players named to the team. Staff Writer Low 42F. North Texas coach Rodney DeLong, right, credits the support of the schools athletics administration headed by athletic director Wren Baker, left, for helping the Mean Greens program improve rapidly. You have permission to edit this article. UNT briefly considered building an entirely new stadium but elected to renovate its current home instead.