Category Archives: speaker

29Oct

Tim Walton

Head Coach University of Florida

• Tim Walton has established Florida softball as a national powerhouse in his 11 years at the helm of the Gators. In his 11 years at Florida, the Gators have earned a total of:
  • 7 WCWS berths
  • 4 appearances in the Championship Series
  • the program’s first and second National Championship Titles in 2014 and 2015.  

• Walton reached a career milestone when he earned career win No. 600 in just his 12th season as a head coach - which means his teams have had at least 50 wins each of his 12 years at Florida. Win No. 600 came in just his 774th game, making Walton the fastest active head coach in the Southeastern Conference to reach 600 lifetime victories.

• Walton has led Florida to countless school and SEC records, and his squads have earned numerous firsts for the Gator softball program. UF has made the NCAA Tournament every year of his tenure, hosted Regionals all 10 times and played host to NCAA Super Regionals eight times from 2008-16.

• On the softball diamond, Walton’s players have earned numerous accolades:
  • 14 players with a total of 29 NFCA All-America honors
  • 19 players with 44 total NFCA All-Southeast Region honors
  • 15 WCWS All-Tournament team selections (including three Most Outstanding Players)
  • 19 players with 41 All-SEC honors, and 17 SEC All-Tournament team selections, including 3 MVPs, 3 SEC Pitchers of the Year and 4 SEC Players of the Year.

• Statis
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29Oct

Carol Hutchins

Head Coach University of Michigan

• Head coach Carol Hutchins (Hutch) is in her 33rd season at the helm of the University of Michigan softball program. Hutch owns more wins than any other coach in any division in NCAA softball history! Period! She has guided the Wolverines to:
  • 1 NCAA title
  • 19 Big Ten Conference titles
  • 9 Big Ten Tournament titles
  • Qualified for NCAA Tournament 24 times
  • 18 NCAA Regional crowns
  • 12 WCWS appearances
  • Never had a losing season
  • Inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2006.

• With a career record of 1,484-478-4 as a head coach, she has a winning percentage of 75% and has averaged 46 wins per year for 32 years!

• Michigan posted a 52-7 record in 2016, claiming its ninth straight Big Ten title and a spot in the WCWS-- the program's 12th overall and third in four years. Sierra Romero was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and Megan Betsa repeated as Big Ten Pitcher of the Year.

• Under Hutch, Michigan became the first program east of the Mississip
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29Oct

Howard Dobson

Assistant Coach Louisiana State University

• Howard Dobson enters his 6th season as an assistant coach at LSU. He serves as the program's hitting coach and assists with recruiting.

• Highly regarded as one of the best hitting coaches in the nation, Dobson has helped take 5 teams to the Women’s College World Series: LSU - 2016, 2015, 2012; Oklahoma – 2004, 2003.

• During his tenure at LSU, the Tigers offense has surged to new heights:
  • In 2016, LSU produced the 4th most hits in program history, 2nd most runs scored, 4th most total bases and 2nd most RBIs. The team also set a single season mark for walks with 315.
  • The 2015 Tigers set five team statistical records in batting average (.335), slugging percentage (.523), on-base percentage (.425), RBIs (392) and runs scored (428).
  • The 2014 team earned the 2nd highest team batting average in program history at .314, while the squad's 65 home runs were the most in a single year in program history.
  • LSU turned in a 65-point improvement in batting average from the 2012 to 2013 season, improving it another 30 points to jump from .220 to .314 during that span.

• Dobson has been heavily involved with USA Softball over the last 4 summers. He served as an assistant coach on the USA Softball Elite Team in 2012 and the USA Softball Women's National T
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29Oct

Mike Candrea

Head Coach University of Arizona

• Mike Candrea enters his 33rd season as the head coach of the University of Arizona softball team and by far, is softball’s most decorated college coach. Mike’s accomplishments include:
  • 8 NCAA National Championships
  • 2 NJCAA National Championships
  • 21 trips to the Women’s College World Series
  • 1,468 career victories (career winning percentage of 80%)
  • 54 All-Americans, including 4 National Players of the Year, 5 Coach of the Year awards
  • 2-time USA Olympic Softball Team Head Coach; 1 Olympic Gold Medal and 1 Olympic Silver Medal

• Head Coach of the USA Women’s Softball Olympic team that won Gold at the 2004 Olympics, and Silver at the 2008 Olympics. The 2004 team posted a perfect 9-0 record, outscoring its opponents 51-1 in one of the most dominant team performances in any sport in Olympic history.

• Candrea led Arizona to their first national championship in 1991. National championships followed in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2007.

• During Candrea’s tenure at Arizona the Cats have had a succession of top-level players – sluggers, hitters, dominant pitchers and Olympians. For 22-c
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Beth Torina

• Beth Torina is in her 5th season at the helm of the LSU softball program. Under Torina’s leadership, the Tigers have returned to national prominence with a 50-win and two 40-win seasons, and trips to the Women’s College World Series in 2012 and 2015.
• The Tigers 2015 season was one for the ages: A 25-game winning streak; the program’s first ever No. 1 ranking; a trip to the Women’s College World Series; Tigers freshmen pitchers Carley Hoover and Allie Walljasper earned NFCA 3rd team All American honors, and Hoover was named the Louisiana Pitcher of the Year.
• In 2013, LSU pitcher Rachele Fico earned NFCA 1 st Team All American honors for the second straight season, was a USA Softball Top 25 Player of the Year finalist, and a Senior Class Award Top 10 finalist.
• In 2012, Torina guided the LSU pitching staff to a stifling 1.58 staff ERA which tied for second-lowest in the SEC.
• Torina has proven herself a great coach, program builder, and developer of players at both the college and professional ranks. At the professional level, she was head coach of the USSSA Pride when the team captured the 2012 Ringer Cup trophy awarded to the league’s regular season champion. At the collegiate level, her players and teams at LSU, Florida International, the University of Houston, and Stetson University achieved heights and success they had never known before.
• Beth’s ability to solve pitching problems in a creative & innovative way while balancing both the Head Coach and Pitching Coach makes her extremely Valuable to our Pitching Summit.

Cindy Bristow

• Cindy has authored numerous instructional books and videos on pitching, and gives pitching clinics and lessons to players of all ages and skill levels, including many NCAA Division I & II pitchers.
• She is an avid student of the game, understands the mechanics and fundamentals of pitching, and is able to get that knowledge across in an easy-to-understand manner. As a result of her pitching expertise and prowess, Cindy has gained a well-deserved reputation as a pitching leader and innovator.
• Cindy’s skills and experience range far and wide. She has been involved in virtually every facet of softball throughout her 30-plus year career in the sport:
  • She pitched both collegiately (Cal Poly Pomona), and professionally (Santa Ana Lionettes).
  • She coached collegiately (Arizona State, New Mexico State, Wichita State), and professionally (Georgia Pride).
• And has also served as:
  • President of the National Softball Coaches Association
  • National Director of Junior Olympic Softball and National Teams Director for the
  • Director of Development for the International Softball Federation
• Cindy’s creativity and innovation along with her ability to simplify complex concepts and make them apply to any level pitcher or coach makes her message extremely valuable to our Pitching Summit.