EL PASO, TEXAS - Kathleen Rodriguez, who led Eastern New Mexico to the NCAA Division II finals in 2001, has been named UTEP's first softball coach, Director of Athletics Bob Stull announced on Wednesday.
UTEP will be affiliated with the Western Athletic Conference in softball and
will begin play in the spring of 2004.
"We're pleased to have Kathleen join our coaching family for a number of reasons," Stull said. "She is very familiar with the Southwest, having played and coached in this region. She has started up programs in the past, and has been extremely successful. This criteria seems to make her the perfect fit to head up the softball program at the University of Texas-El Paso."
"I'm excited to be a part of UTEP athletics. I look forward to building a strong softball tradition," said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, 30, was the head coach at Eastern New Mexico in Portales, N.M. for the last four years. She was the softball coach at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas from 1995-98.
She helped Eastern New Mexico garner a fifth-place national showing in 2001. The Zias were Lone Star Conference and South Central Regional Champions, earning Rodriguez league coach of the year honors. Eastern New Mexico's team grade point average ranked among the nation's top 20 Division II schools in each of the last three years.
Rodriguez started up the softball program at Schreiner University. The Mountaineers made the regional tournament in only their second year of
existence.
During her tenure as a head coach, Rodriguez has tutored three All-Americans, a conference player of the year, 29 All-Conference players, 24 Academic All-Conference honorees, 10 Academic All-District selections and 22 Academic All-Americans.
A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Rodriguez was a four-year starter for Saint Mary's national tournament softball team from 1991-94, playing catcher and third base. She was an All-State player at Santa Fe High School from 1988-90.
Rodriguez graduated from Saint Mary's (Texas) University in 1994 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science. She was on the national Dean's List in 1994. She is nearing completion of her master's degree in Human Performance and Leisure Sport from Eastern New Mexico.
Rodriguez and her husband, James, have two sons, Ryan (5) and Aryn (1).