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ASU hires new softball coach


Following in the footsteps of two coaching legends is rarely easy. But it isn't as difficult when you are a coaching legend yourself.

On Wednesday, Clint Myers was hired as the head softball coach at ASU, the third head coach in the 35-year history of the program.

Myers replaces Linda Wells, who retired at the end of last season, her 16th at ASU. Wells won a school record 563 games at ASU, guiding the Sun Devils to a seventh place finish in the 1999 Women's College World Series and a third place finish in 2002.

ASU's first coach, Mary Littlewood, won two national championships and 536 games in 19 seasons.

"I'm very excited for the opportunity to return to ASU," said Myers, who played on the ASU baseball team from 1970-73. "It is every player's dream to be able to coach at the institution in which he played. I said during the interview process that I have been a Sun Devil since 1970. It is very nice to come back over 30 years later and coach such a successful program.

"I am excited and fortunate for this chance and enthusiastic about the possibilities that I will have coaching at ASU."

Myers doesn't come to ASU without qualifications.

He coached the Central Arizona College baseball team to a 406-192 record during the past 10 seasons, winning the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship in 2002.

Before taking over the baseball team, Myers posted a 481-43 record in nine seasons as Central Arizona's head softball coach, winning six NJCAA national championships. During that span, he was named NJCAA National Coach of the Year six times.

Myers also had success coaching at Casa Grande Union High School and Yavapai College. He coached ASU's junior varsity baseball program to a 35-9 record in 1976, while also helping Jim Brock's varsity team to a third-place finish at the College World Series that year.

ASU Athletic Director Lisa Love said that Myers was the perfect candidate for the position.

"ASU engaged in a national search and all things pointed to Clint Myers," Love said. "He is our No. 1 choice, and we are thrilled about the prospect of championship softball under his leadership. We were very impressed with his championship mentality, his integrity and family values."

Myers inherits a team that finished last in the Pac-10 last season, going 30-26 overall and 4-17 in the toughest conference in the nation. The Sun Devils finished third in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Regional of the NCAA tournament.

Outfielder Valerie Sevilla, ASU's lone senior last year, is the only player who will not be returning next season.

Second-team all Pac-10 selection Mindy Cowles will return, along with conference honorable mention selections Sharee Zaleski, Heidi Knabe and Katie Burkhart.

Burkhart, a freshman left hander, recently participated in the U.S. National Team selection camp.

Myers said he looked forward to his next coaching challenge and hoped to build off his predecessors' success.

"Linda Wells did a great job with the program over the past years to keep ASU among the best in the nation," Myers said. "We will play with a new philosophy and go out and compete with a certain amount of knowledge of how the game is played. I expect the winning ways ASU is accustomed to will continue in the upcoming years, as well as down the road."

Reach the reporter at jeremy.a.cluff@asu.edu.


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