Friday, July 15, 2011

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville University softball team didn’t have to look far for its new leader as assistant Ali Higgs has been promoted to head coach, Director of Athletics Alan Verlander announced Friday.

Higgs replaces Amanda Lehotak who recently took the head coaching job at Texas-San Antonio and for whom Higgs has been the top assistant since 2007.

“After a national search, Ali was the best choice to lead our softball program,’’ Verlander said. “She has been a big reason for the recent success and she knows the expectations now placed on JU softball. She is a tireless worker and a tremendous recruiter. I look forward to working with her to build our softball program into a nationally ranked team.” The former pitching coach inherits a team she helped build and one that went to the NCAA Tournament earlier this year. The Dolphins beat Bethune-Cookman but were eliminated by UCLA in the first round.

The Dolphins won the Atlantic Sun championship this season with an 18-2 record and were 44-16 overall.

“I want to thank Alan, (Senior Women’s Administrator) Marsha (Haskew), President (Kerry) Romesburg and the Board of Trustees for giving me this great opportunity,’’ Higgs said. “I am grateful for the chance to remain a part of the JU family and continue the success of JU softball.’’

The team’s pitching staff has improved each season under Higgs to the point that since 2008 the team ERA has dropped from 2.97 to 1.48.

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