EL PASO, TEXAS - UTEP will introduce softball as a part of its intercollegiate athletic program in 2004, Director of Athletics Bob Stull announced on Monday.
"We're looking forward to adding softball in 2004," Stull said. "We've been investigating adding a women's sport for the last two years, and analyzing which sport would be the best fit for UTEP. We determined that softball would be the most attractive sport for us, due to the interest it has garnered in the community. We recognize that there are a lot of excellent
softball prospects in El Paso, and we would like to focus our recruiting efforts in this area."
A national search will begin immediately to appoint a head coach, with the goal of having someone in place later this fall. Assistant coaches will be hired in the spring.
UTEP athletic department officials are currently investigating possible venues for home games.
Miner softball will be a Division I-A program affiliated with the Western Athletic Conference. Six schools are currently tied to the WAC in softball : Fresno State, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, Nevada, San Jose State and Tulsa.
UTEP fielded a baseball team from 1963-85, and currently sponsors 15 Division I-A sports (six men's teams, nine women's teams).