(Story courtesy of Austin College)

SHERMAN, Texas - Jaclyn Davis has been named the new head coach of the Austin College softball program, athletics director David Norman has announced. Davis comes to Austin College after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Rutgers University-Newark.

“After a thorough national search that yielded more than 100 applicants, we are pleased to welcome Jaclyn to the to the Austin College family,” said Norman. “She brings with her tremendous experience and knowledge from her days as a student-athlete as well as an assistant coach. We look forward to the continued success of our Kangaroo softball program under Jaclyn’s leadership.”

A 2007 graduate of Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut with a masters degree from Boston University, Davis served as an assistant at Rutgers from 2009 until this past season, and while there she worked closely with the student-athletes as an academic advisor and was a key component in the team’s recruiting efforts.

“I am extremely honored to have been given the opportunity to join the coaching staff at Austin College,” said Davis. “I would like to thank David Norman, Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics Tim Millerick, Senior Women’s Administrator Michelle Filander and President Marjorie Hass for giving me this opportunity.”

Prior to her time at Rutgers, Davis also served as an assistant at Suffolk University in Boston from 2007 through the 2009 season. During her time at Suffolk she helped coach two conference Players of the Years well as a Third Team All-American, and was integral in team fundraising, player development and opponent scouting.

During her time as a student-athlete, Davis earned numerous academic honors, including being named the Post University Scholar-Athlete of the Year, earning National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Scholar-Athlete status all four years and being inducted into the Alpha Chi National Honor Society. She was also a representative on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and a team captain.

“I know that Coach Davis will be an outstanding addition to the Austin College community, and that she will provide great leadership for our softball program going forward,” said Hass. “Coach Davis understands and appreciates the importance of building character and what it means to be a true student-athlete, and that success is not limited to the playing field, but also extends the classroom and as role models within the community.”

Davis inherits a program that will be in its sixth season as a varsity NCAA Division III program and returns five starters, including three All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference players, as well as last year’s entire pitching staff.

“I am excited to get to Texas, meet the Austin College community and become a competitive force within the SCAC,” said Davis. “I believe that there is a great foundation here within the softball program and that together we have the opportunity to do great things.”