Former UT Martin pitcher Ashton Strode has been named the head softball coach at Union College in Barbourville, Ky.
Union College Interim Director of Athletics Tim Curry made the announcement this past month. Strode is the ninth coach in the history of the Union College program.
“Although she is a young coach, her extensive background in the game have prepared her well to lead our program into the future,” he said.
Before accepting the job at Union College, Strode served as an assistant coach at Union University in Jackson.
This past season, Union went 46-12 overall, and captured the 2012 TranSouth Conference championship, the program’s first since 2004. The season culminated with a berth in the 2012 NAIA National Tournament.
“I’m very excited to be taking the position here at Union College,” Strode said.
“I’m ready to get going, and start working with the student-athletes we have here. My main goal is to build off what has been done the past few years, and try to duplicate some of the success we had at Union University right here in Barbourville.”
Strode played college softball at UTM for head coach Donley Canary. In 2006, she pitched the school’s first perfect game, and tied the program single game strikeout record.
She was named the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Newcomer of the Year in ‘06, and earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Academic All-American honors after her senior season in 2008.
Strode, a native of Baker, Fla., earned her bachelor of arts degree in education and behavioral sciences from UT Martin in 2009.
She also is finishing up her master’s in sports administration from Union University. Published in The WCP 7.10.12