TEMPE, Ariz. – The 2017 Sun Devil softball season will usher in a new era of ASU softball history as first-year head coach Trisha Ford, and her assistants, will continue the tradition of excellence that has been built through the program's 39-year history.
Coach Ford was introduced as the Sun Devil's new head softball coach by Vice President for University Athletics and Athletics Director Ray Anderson on June 15th and quickly went to work assembling one of the most impressive support staffs in the country.
The first building block came with the announcement of the hiring of Carly Wynn, a former assistant coach at Fresno State University where she helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back Mountain West Conference Championships in the 2015 and '16 seasons.
"Carly is one of the most passionate and elite teachers of the game," said Ford. "She has spent the last four years with me at Fresno and understands my system better than anyone. She is a complete coach, someone who enjoys and embraces both the mental and physical side of the game. Carly brings intangibles to the program and I can't wait to see the impact she has on the lives of our players here in Tempe."
Prior to beginning her already successful coaching career, Wynn enjoyed an equally successful collegiate playing career at Florida State. Wynn played for the Seminoles from 2007-10 and was an All-ACC Team selection from 2008-10 as well as an All-ACC Academic Team selection all four years in Tallahassee. The slugger swung her way into the record books in seven offensive categories including batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles, homeruns, walks and slugging percentage.
Wynn continued her softball career after graduating from FSU, playing professionally in the National Professional Fastpitch Softball League for the Tennessee Diamonds.
Ford added more depth, and professional experience, to her staff when she announced the hiring of Roman Foore.
Foore, a highly accomplished coach as well as men's fastpitch player, is a member of the United States Men's National Fastpitch Team and has earned numerous honors during his playing career.
"We are excited about having Roman join our staff," Ford added. "He comes to us after helping the Chicago Bandits from the NPF to back to back championships. Roman played on the USA men's fastpitch softball team at a very high level and will help in all facets of the game. Having someone on staff that can simulate opponent pitchers, work with hitters and infielders is such a huge asset."
From 2011-2013 Foore was an assistant at Appalachian State University, where he was the head recruiter and hitting coach for the Mountaineers. During his tenure, ASU won a Southern Conference Championship, led all of NCAA DI with an 18-0 home record in 2013, broke the school record for wins in a season and broke hitting records for batting average, homeruns, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, doubles and RBI's. Coach Foore also helped produce the programs first All-American.
Prior to his position at Appalachian State, Foore spent one season as an assistant at the University of St. Thomas, helping the Tommies to a 2011 MIAC Championship and runner-up finish at the NCAA Regional.
Foore spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Eagan High School, where he was named the Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008 after helping the Wildcats to the State Championship. He also led the Burnsville 18U traveling fastpitch team to a pair of state championships as the head coach in 1999 and 2000. Roman is a 1998 graduate of Texas Lutheran University where he played baseball and was also a student assistant with the TLU softball program.
Ford and her staff will embark on the 2017 season in early February, and lead a team primed for success. The Sun Devil softball program's trophy case features two Pac-12 Championships and four NCAA Championships.
ASU fans first opportunity to see the Sun Devil softball team in action will be Oct. 19, when ASU lifts the lid off their fall schedule with a matchup against Phoenix College. First pitch for the Wednesday tilt is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. with free admission.