[CheapSeats]

Question?
Do the athletes that have committed to the softball program have to keep that commitment even when the coach leaves? I am asking because a high school coach I know said one of his players was able to switch schools because the coach left.
The program may be in good shape but it seems some one should be confirming those commitments. (?)
From way up here in the CheapSeats I can't tell who is left on the field for next year!

[BJWilliams]

You can renege on a commitment if a coach leaves...its when you sign a letter of intent where things get pretty hairy if you want to change schools. As far as that goes, though football's is highest profile, every sport has a signing period during which athletes can cement their commitments. An athlete cannot do that one minute sooner than the start of that period or the NCAA goes berserko.

[CheapSeats]

You can renege on a commitment if a coach leaves...its when you sign a letter of intent where things get pretty hairy if you want to change schools. As far as that goes, though football's is highest profile, every sport has a signing period during which athletes can cement their commitments. An athlete cannot do that one minute sooner than the start of that period or the NCAA goes berserko.

Thanks for the info, during coach transitions (generally speaking) does someone keep in contact with committed new players and current players? AD? Admissions?
Just thinking there has to be some kind of plan.(?)

I hope the program isn't Set back because of the down time. Many coaches will be in Oklahoma this weekend for a tournament then in Colorado July 4th week for a huge tournament.
I am not sure what year the majority are recruiting for but 14-16s will be at both.
About to head out for the weekend.
Found a CheapSeat on a late night Flight.
Looking forward to some news when I get back!!!

[BJWilliams]

Not sure when the signing period for 2014-15 kicks off exactly, (the NLI page lists the early period for 2013-14 signees was from Nov 14-21 2012 and the regular period is from April 17-August 1 2013) but we got our signees in November (only two because we had only two seniors I think). Unless the coaching change causes massive roster upheaval I dont think youll hear much on the recruiting front until the fall

[Eighty]

Question?
Do the athletes that have committed to the softball program have to keep that commitment even when the coach leaves? I am asking because a high school coach I know said one of his players was able to switch schools because the coach left.
The program may be in good shape but it seems some one should be confirming those commitments. (?)

If the student athlete has signed the NLI they are still bound by the NLI. A coaching change does not release the signee from their commitment, nor does it release the institution. The Athlete can ask for a release, however, there can be a year penalty for getting the release.

If the student athlete has "verballed" then they are not bound to the commitment. The institution is not legally bound as well. However, I would hope as a Christian institution LU will honor the commitment Coach Wetmore made to the 2014's. The 2014 recruiting season was over last fall for most D1 programs. Those players/families would be in a very difficult situation if LU backed out now.

[olldflame]

... I hear big news coming soon...

we hired a WLAX coach?

Medic with inside info?

http://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm ... 75&TeamID=

[PAmedic]

I'm good right?

never doubt me

[olldflame]

I´m thinking the rather lengthy delay in announcing a new coach would tend to point toward Dr. Dot or someone else who is not currently a college coach. If we were hiring a current coach, we all know that contracts don´t mean a lot, and they would actually want to make the move quickly so as to allow their current team as much time as posible to find a replacement. The situation the Doc is in with her work as an ortheopidic surgeon and with the national training center probably involves a more involved set of committments which would need to be met before leaving.

[ballcoach15]

Regardless of who new coach will be, no one can say LU acted too quickly in naming new coach.

[Purple Haize]

Regardless of who new coach will be, no one can say LU acted too quickly in naming new coach.

It does not happen often but you are 100% correct

[BJWilliams]

As rare as it is for me to agree with ballcoach, I am here, although there have been a couple other coaching changes that took place in the weeks since softball season ended and Coach Wetmore retired

[panther1]

Toured the campus with a potential Flames club member this week. Shock may be the best word when they were shown the softball "area".

[Purple Haize]

Toured the campus with a potential Flames club member this week. Shock may be the best word when they were shown the softball "area".

They should be shocked they found it!

[olldflame]

Toured the campus with a potential Flames club member this week. Shock may be the best word when they were shown the softball "area".

Was this the existing facility or the site for the new one?

[panther1]

We looked at both olldflame. I asurred him that with the future plans, we should be contending for regional if not national crowns in a few years. I think he bought it!

[Purple Haize]

We looked at both olldflame. I asurred him that with the future plans, we should be contending for regional if not national crowns in a few years. I think he bought it!

Sales is in your future!

[sofla]

Assistant coaches are in place and were recruiting last weekend at the Legacy Showcase in Atlanta.

[olldflame]

Assistant coaches are in place and were recruiting last weekend at the Legacy Showcase in Atlanta.

So, can you tell us who they are?

[sofla]

Bob Pinto (Dot Richardson's husband) and Paige Cassady, pitching coach ( pitching coach at Lipscomb last year after her college career as a pitcher at FIU)

[PAmedic]

Bob Pinto (Dot Richardson's husband) and Paige Cassady, pitching coach ( pitching coach at Lipscomb last year after her college career as a pitcher at FIU)

not exactly what I was expecting.

given, I know less than nothing about softball.

[Sly Fox]

That was exactly the type of hires I was expecting. Nice staff.

[olldflame]

Paige Cassady should know her way around the BSC. She actually spent most of her college career playing for Presby before transferring to FIU.

Pinto is someone who could probably take his pick of a lot of HC Jobs. This is one case where nepotism is a good thing.

[BJWilliams]

Cue ballcoach with some comment on how she should have hired some of her former Olympian teammates or an assistant from a top 10 school or something...

[ballcoach15]

Rather have someone who knows way around SEC, ACC or PAC10, than BSC. LU needs to think beyond BSC as far as softball goes.

The new pitching coach sounds like a good hire.

[olldflame]

Rather have someone who knows way around SEC, ACC or PAC10, than BSC. LU needs to think beyond BSC as far as softball goes.

The new pitching coach sounds like a good hire.

You do realize it IS the pitching coach who played for Presby?

The other assistant, Bob Pinto, is Mr. Dot Richardson.

Yeah, we need to pick an assistant based on a conference we MIGHT get into 20 or so years from now. That would be real FORWARD THINKING.

No matter how good we get to be in softball under Dr. Dot, it will have zero effect onour conference affiliation. That will be a based on FOOTBALL. Right now I think almost all of us would be ecstatic if the Sun Belt or Colonial would take us.