Kozlowski joined Kees staff following her first season at UNT. "We are very excited to announce the addition of Kristen Zaleski to our Longhorns family," White said. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. His writing has also appeared on FOX Sports, Bleacher Report and at the Associated Press. Under his tutelage, Cameron had 18 all-conference honorees, nine named all-region and two selected as All-Americans. He has a 54-24 record at UNT. UNT has also replaced the outfield fences and recently installed hitting cages at the venue. 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). 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. We won't share it with anyone else. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. UNT softball coach DeLong signs extension through 2024. 2. 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. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. View Type: Toggle List View Toggle Card View Toggle Table View. How about striking out the side? 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. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. This past season, Zaleski served as the volunteer assistant on head coach Patty Gasso's staff during Oklahoma's record-setting run to the program's sixth national title. 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 was well known in the Texas-Oklahoma softball community when he arrived at UNT. The challenge is one UNT has been preparing to tackle. 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. North Texas softball coach Rodney DeLong high-fives Hanna Rebar after she hit a home run last season at Lovelace Stadium. 24 in its preseason poll. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Chance of rain 90%. It was an awesome win, especially as a team, recalled Evans, who hit .314 and started all 24 games during the shortened season. They were hungry, they wanted to be really good.. 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. Growing up in Lawton, Oklahoma, University of North Texas head softball coach Rodney DeLong was a die-hard Oklahoma Sooners football fan. Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. The team really bought in. We are recruiting high caliber athletes and will be a popular transfer destination for good players who want to come closer to home or come to a place where they will be allowed to play freely and be successful. It was a family and life decision.. She spent 16 seasons as the coach at East Carolina. Breeding-Gonzales Invalid password or account does not exist. The things we ask for, we get. That is my goal. 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. DeLongs salary under terms of the deal will begin at $140,000 and increase $5,000 annually. In all, her teams won four Region V North Championships and made four national tournament appearances (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019). cbreeding@dentonrc.com. Breeding-Gonzales All the seniors from last years squad opted not to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility allowed by the NCAA. Breeding-Gonzales Professionally, Zaleski played five seasons of National Pro Fastpitch with the Texas Thunder (2004-06) and the Rockford Thunder (2007-08). Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Lions Sweep and Coach Hedrick Win Career Game #900 February 8, 2022 | Softball Full Story Softball Softball Softball Softball No events to show. 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. 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. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. She cited what she saw as an uncomfortable environment within the program as the reason for her departure before her senior year. Chance of rain 40%.. Cloudy skies. North Texas is a great program. NCAA tournament bids are what Baker was hoping for back when he hired DeLong. Skip to main content. Cobb posted a .397 batting average, while Gamble hit 16 home runs and hit .327. DeLong caught Bakers attention by building a winner at Austin Peay. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. You have permission to edit this article. This one was different. Tracey Kee resigned as North Texas softball coach Wednesday, ending her rocky five-year tenure with the program. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Thanks to what DeLong has built, UNT quickly recovered and dominated throughout its three-game run to the C-USA title. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS. 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 . Error! The 2015 squad posted a school-record 41 wins, including a program-record 17-game winning streak, and reached the South Central Regional final. He is in his fifth season at the helm of North Texas softball. 1, 2016. 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. SSE winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 25 to 35 mph. 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. We won't share it with anyone else. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. The North Texas softball team will open the season nationally ranked for the first time. You have permission to edit this article. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. There is more to UNTs success than just recruiting talented players. Staff Writer 5 Oklahoma on the road. Chance of rain 90%.. Staff Writer Our program can go to the World Series someday. 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. Asst softball coach 2: $120,000. We have a lot of momentum going into this year, Peters said. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Camps and clinics are ran by University of North Texas Head Coach Rodney DeLong and coaching staff. In addition to his most recent position at CNU, Joshua has been an assistant coach at Virginia Wesleyan University, Head Coach of the Hampton Roads Vipers Select team in Virginia Beach, Virginia and both as Assistant Coach and Head Coach of Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. There was a problem saving your notification. jfields@dentonrc.com, Sanger school board approves Chad Rogers as new football coach, boys athletic director. Invalid password or account does not exist. 2022 Fall Report: North Texas. Low 42F. 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. He has brought in talented kids who want to win. Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. It was awesome. What hes accomplished in his tenure at UNT has helped him bring in players like Rainey, who was the C-USA tournament MVP. Catcher Kalei Christensen, infielder Kailey Gamble, outfielder Lexi Cobb and pitcher Skylar Savage joined Peters on the all-league team. During year one of the DeLong era, the Mean Green earned four All-Conference selections. Oklahoma Louisiana and Texas players and. But DeLong and his players had no room for such thoughts as they prepared for the matchup. North Texas also finished the shortened season with a perfect 5-0 record at home. His strategy paid off. And onSunday, Trautwein may have found the next degree of it. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Now,forget the perfect game for just a moment. Home | Coaches & Contacts; 469.236.8838 | Donate. Choose wisely! Staff Writer Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Kee signed a one-year contract extension last spring. He will earn $160,000 in the last year of the contract, double what he earned in his first season at UNT in 2019. The two teams squared off again later that day, with the Sooners coming out on top 15-8. Im not going to be surprised when we get everyones best, Gamble said. bvito@dentonrc.com. Furthermore, the Sooners had never lost in the Courtyard Marriott Tournament since its inception in 2014. Photo: Lake Creek High. 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. Rainfall around a half an inch. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. She is 804-506-1 in 21 seasons as a head coach. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Here are some helpful Tips for tryouts for softball or any other sport. We have learned and grown while playing for coach DeLong. I bought into that. Its something we are doing.. All going down on strikes. Staff Writer Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Staff Writer 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. Kee came to UNT to start over in 2014 and got off to a promising start, finishing 31-22 in her first season. OF Fr. 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. My years here have been full of great memories. 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. During a shortened second season, DeLong continued to elevate the program to new heights. There were 28 perfect games thrown during college's softball last full season in 2019. 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. Kee became one of 32 active Division I coaches to reach the milestone. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. But DeLong is confident he has enough depth and experience to make up for it. 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. That set up a showdown with OU the following day. 2023 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. North Texas' Hope Trautwein became the first player in DI NCAA softball history to throw seven-inning perfect game with 21 strikeouts. Mikaela Olguin. DeLong has signed a five-year extension with UNT. Get the most important Softball stories delivered straight to your inbox. Seven innings pitched. North Texas jumped out to an early lead before OU exploded for six runs in the fourth. High 76F. Low 57F. We have pretty much our whole team back and have added girls who are going to bring a lot to the lineup.. They split the first two games, falling to Northwestern in the opener before beating Abilene Christian. North Texas softball coach Rodney DeLong has signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him in Denton through the 2025 season. The Mean Green traveled to Norman to play in the Courtyard Marriott Tournament. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. The investigations report described an emotionally hostile environment and potential secondary NCAA violations. Ashley Peters was named C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year after finishing 20-7 with a 2.43 ERA last season. Several of those veterans were included in C-USAs Preseason All-Conference Team. Kee was unable to sustain the momentum UNT established during her debut campaign and struggled to retain players throughout her tenure. Christopher Newport University is a NCAA Division III program where Coach Freeman served as Assistant head coach. 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, Abbott calls for public school vouchers, but Denton ISD officials and a local legislator arent so sure, By John Fields An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. That is why you are in this game and why the kids play the sport.. Staff Writer Full Bio. It helped UNT get through the tough times all teams experience. The Governors snapped a run of 24 straight losing seasons when they went 39-19 in their lone season under DeLong in 2018. 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. UNT was 19-5 this year before the remainder of its season was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Site Navigation. The Mean Green will open C-USA play when they travel to Louisiana Tech for a three-game series on March 10. By submitting my information, I agree to the, What Patty Gasso Likes About Her OU Squad, North Texas Pitcher Hope Trautwein Tosses 21-Strikeout Perfect Game, Sooners Boom Their Way Past UCLA And Other College Softball Takeaways, Highlights: No. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. Even though we didnt win that (second) game, we never let up that entire time.. Oklahoma has such a great offense and so many talented players, DeLong said. White Oak, TX / White Oak High School: 2: Braylynn Henderson: RHP-Fr. That type of loss would have derailed a lot of teams. Only two other players in NCAA DI softball history had recorded21 strikeouts in a seven-inning game before Trautwein. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito. bcolombo@dentonrc.com, Stranger walks into unlocked home in Denton; resident pushes him out, By Juan Betancourt She started her career at Central Florida before electing to transfer. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Cloudy this morning then windy with strong thunderstorms this afternoon. Nonetheless, perfection is an accomplishment in any sport. Chance of rain 90%. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Longtime UNT softball assistant Dillon Bryant set to leave program. 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. The school added covered batting cages and bullpens two years ago and put in a new infield surface and scoreboard this year. Sports. At CNU,Freeman helped lead the Captains to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Super Regionals in 2019. North Texas sports information Rodney DeLong slowly lifted a fist into the air on Sunday as members of the North Texas softball team jumped out of their seats. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. During the 2017 campaign, the Yellow Jackets showed improvement in 11 different offensive categories and finished the season ranked 18th nationally in home runs per game (1.02), nearly doubling their average from 2016. 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). Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. When the stars align, I dont see why we couldnt make a run to a super regional or World Series. North Central Texas College. You can tell players that if they come here, they are going to win championships. 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. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. 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. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. They know what it looks like now and how close we were. We feel like we can be a perennial top 25 program, given our location, if we fund it the right way, Baker said. Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. I cannot thank my staff, my student-athletes and those associated with the program enough for their dedication and hard work.. SSE winds at 10 to 15 mph, increasing to 25 to 35 mph. North Texas is the overwhelming favorite to win another Conference USA softball title. Aug 2012 - May 20141 year 10 months. Prior to her year at OU, Zaleski spent two seasons as the head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2020-21). And of her 21 strikeouts, only four were of thelooking variety. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. The Papillion-La Vista grad didn't puke, not even when Nebraska (40-14) learned its draw 15 minutes into the show. OF Jr. 5' 8'' Silver Lake JR/SR HS Silver Lake, KS. DeLong believes scheduling elite schools is the best way to prepare his team for the big stage. Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. The support of the administration is important to me moving forward, DeLong said. 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