Now in her fourth year at SWOSU, Head Softball Coach Kim Maher has grown the program from two 11th-place finishes in her 2nd and 3rd year here to breaking through and qualifying for the Great American Conference Tournament and winning the coach of the year in the GAC last season.
“Four years, but it seems a lot longer,” said Maher about her time here, “I don’t like to play just to play. I want to win, and changing the culture here was my first job. Just making sure everyone has the same vision as me.”
Coach Maher spoke about how here at SWOSU, it’s about hard work and effort, it isn’t necessarily about how much stuff you get, or the facilities. It is about a solid work ethic and, as she emphasized, graduating. At the NCAA Division II level, there is no guarantee that you will make it to the professional level, so you have to figure out what it is that you want to do with your life after it is over. For an athlete who has played their sport for the majority of their lives, this isn’t an easy transition. Maher discussed how she wants her athletes to learn as much as possible then go out and be great people.
The season begins with a tournament in Edmond, hosted by Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian and Maher knows her team is ready.
“My team is just ready to play someone else,” Maher commented on her players, “this tournament will give us a good idea of where we are at, who’s a gamer (someone who does well in games, and not just practice players), where we need to improve, or where we are great at.”
Maher will lead her team Friday, Feb. 7th against UCO at 2 p.m. and will play a total of four games over the weekend. The Dawgs will open up conference play at Southeastern Oklahoma State with a four-game series on February 21-22. The first time to catch them at home will be following week against Arkansas-Monticello, with a four-game set for February 28-29.
“Please come out and support the Bulldogs,” Coach Maher called out the Bulldog family to get out and come cheer on the teams, “If it isn’t softball, let it be baseball, but remember to bundle up as it is always cold and windy!”
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