Is there any Hope for Western Carolina Softball?

Can Western Carolina get any worse than it is. They are at the bottom of their conference and have been now for every year they have had the current coach. They have lost more and more players 24 to be exact since 2006 this does not include the graduates. This is just the number of players that have quit or transfered since the current coach came on board. Let the numbers speak for themselves
2006
Record: 41-20 Home: 19-4 Away: 13-9 Neutral: 9-7 SoCon: 16-4 - Won Southern Conference
2007
Record: 28-34 Home: 13-10 Away: 9-13 Neutral: 6-11 SoCon: 9-11
2008
Record: 19-36 Home: 7-7 Away: 8-22 Neutral: 4-7 Southern: 7-14
2009
Record: 12-35 Home: 5-17 Away: 4-10 Neutral: 3-8 Southern: 7-14


And already before the conference season even begins they are 3-14...
When is Western going to finally take notice it is time for a change!

 

I don't believe it can get much worse than it was this weekend against Elon. If something doesn't change in the last 2 innings of game 3 it looks like Elon will sweep WCU at WCU and score close to 50 runs while giving up only 1. It does look like WCU's team is in a little disarray right now, but hopefully things will turn around for them. I know Elon is a very good team and I am not taking anything away from them, but even their people would not have believed they would have scored close to 50 runs in 3 games against any SoCon opponent. In my opinion this game starts in the circle and WCUs staff needs to really improve at this point. The 3 pitchers that have pitched the vast majority of innings have at least a 7 run era which means in order for them to win games they must score 9 or 10...difficult task for any team. The only way to get better is to work harder, perhaps differently, and pull together as a team.

 

I agree, I would have hated to be sitting there watching those games this weekend. It is a shame since that program was so strong the first year with the other coach. All you said is true and Elon is a very strong team this year else they wouldn't be top of the conference right now. I hope they give Chattanooga a run for their money this year and take the title from them. I am afraid the catamounts will not fair much better against any of the conference teams this year. It does all start in the circle but that all starts with recruiting. You would think someone who was a pitching coach at their previous school would have the strongest pitchers in the conference. Not so for Western. Wonder how long it takes for the AD to wise up and do something about it. The whole team now consists pretty much of all her recruits. I believe Hawkins and Reese are the only 2 players left that were recruited by Smith and it all just gets worse. If someone was waiting to see how they did with all her recruits this past weekend is a good example of a very long season for them.

 

Don't know how many schollarships WCU has to offer for softball, but I'm a bettin' that's part of the problem. Even a bad coach could cover part of the problem if they had the money to recruit top of the line players.

Not defending nor miligning, just wondering.

If I remember correctly schollarship money was part of the reason the first coach left.

 

See what a different Coach can do with a player

This athlete was recruited by current coach, came to play last year and was very frustrated with the program and the coach. I have listed a comparison of her stats at Western last year and her current stats now at her new school. I have omitted the name, didn't think anyone needs to know that. Just proof that the coach needs to go!!!

At Western in 2009
XXXXXXXX .148 25-19 61 0 9 0 0 0 4 9 .148 3 2 18 .212 0 1 0-0


At New School 2010
xxxxxx.354 28-28 79 19 28 7 0 7 31 56 .709 13 2 19 0 .457 0 4 0-0 159 25 2 .989


Current overall stats for team
Record: 3-18 Home: 1-3 Away: 0-6 Neutral: 2-9 Southern: 0-6

 

Not a Fair Comparison

You can't compare Leaving a D1 program to go to a D2 School Its not apples to apples

 

It Depends

It depends. Lot of D2 programs better than D1 programs. Even a lot of D1's not apples to apples against other D1's. Lot of D2 players are D1's, just decided to play D2 for reasons of their own. So it just depends on what teams you are comparing.

 

Should I say more after today?

What is left to say, they almost pulled that game out today for a win against the number one team in their conference Chattanooga but wonderful coaching did them in once again. They were ahead 5 - 0 and ended up loosing 7-5. What does it take for the AD to see? And someone said comparing D2 to D1 is not apples to apples. True, normally it is not but in this case.......I think it works don't you. The only wins she has posted this season is against D2 schools and she didn't win all of them.
I do hate it for the team. There is some strong talent on there and I am sure it is very frustrating for them. If there are any suggestions on how to get rid of a coach post them please maybe someone will take notice!

 

Coaching

Looks as though they keept the wrong coach of the two they had there last year. The assistant coach should have been given the job instead of renewing Head Coaches contract for one more year. You would think a pitching coach would be able to do better with her pitching than the results that she is getting. Those girls deserve better than what their getting, and can't feel good about playing under those conditions, morale is got to be a problem and a change would do them good.I can't belive that the school will allow this to continue, it's embarrassing to be a WCU softball fan, and can only imagin what this team could do with proper coaching.Whishfull Thinking!!

 

I think the coach should run some of the players off.