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TYLER, TEXAS \u2013\u00a0UT Tyler Director of Athletics Sam Ferguson\u00a0announced\u00a0Thursday\u00a0that\u00a0Baylor University’s\u00a0Dani Price has been named as the next head coach of the\u00a0Patriots\u00a0softball program.\u00a0
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\n“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Price to East Texas and the UT Tyler community,” Ferguson said. “She is an outstanding coach who has worked with some of the greatest in the industry. Her capacity as a softball coach is only exceeded by\u00a0her energy and\u00a0the character she\u00a0will\u00a0bring to our team. We are excited to\u00a0partner with her as she transforms the lives of young women\u00a0through softball, while also adding value to this community and competing at an elite level.\u00a0This is\u00a0a great day\u00a0for UT Tyler!”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
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\nPrice\u00a0heads\u00a0to Tyler after serving as the Director of Operations at Baylor since July 2021 in what was her second stint with the program. There she helped with the development of student-athletes through data and analytics, scouting and analyzing video to help create game\u00a0plans against opponents, and played a major role in community development to enhance team and fan experiences.\u00a0She played a key role in the development of three-time NFCA All-American Shaylon Govan and 2025 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Presleigh Pilon.\u00a0
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\nHer\u00a0community development\u00a0efforts\u00a0included “Dinner on the Diamond” a fundraising event that raised $65,000 for Baylor’s excellence fund\u00a0and also\u00a0helped launch their locker room renovation project.\u00a0
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\n“I am incredibly grateful and blessed to be chosen as the next head softball coach for UT Tyler,” said Price.\u00a0“I want to thank Dr. Julie Philley and Dr. Sam Ferguson<\/a> for allowing me to step into this role and continue the elite level legacy of UT Tyler softball. I couldn’t be more excited to build relationships across campus and the community of Tyler.”\u00a0
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\nPrior to her second stop in Waco, Price served as an Assistant Coach at both Georgia Southern and McNeese State. At Georgia Southern\u00a0from 2019-2021,\u00a0she\u00a0helped coach the infield and the pitching staff.\u00a0\u00a0The\u00a0pitching staff led the\u00a0NCAA in ERA over the first two weeks of the COVID shortened season, and finished the year with a 2.93 ERA, which doubles as the best ERA for the Eagles since joining the Sun Belt.\u00a0\u00a0At Georgia\u00a0Southern\u00a0she also coached\u00a0All-Sun Belt selections\u00a0Bailee Wilson and Mekhia Freeman.\u00a0
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\nAt McNeese State, she primarily assisted the Cowgirls with hitting and\u00a0pitching from 2017-2019. After just one season, she lowered the\u00a0team\u00a0ERA by a full\u00a0run\u00a0down to 2.53 while limiting opposing run production by 29%. In addition to her work on the field, she served as the program’s recruiting coordinator, where she scheduled recruiting calendars, planned visits, and organized talent.\u00a0During her time with the\u00a0Cowgirls,\u00a0she helped develop All-American and Olympian Erika Piancastelli, who was a four-time Southland Conference Player and Hitter of the Year and Justyce McLain, who was named a Softball America All-American.\u00a0
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\nHer first stop at Baylor came from 2014-2017 where she served as a volunteer assistant. She primarily worked with hitting and defense, covering both the infield and outfield during the three-year stint. During that same time frame, she played a pivotal role in helping the Lady Bears to four straight NCAA Regional qualifications and a pair of Women’s College World Series appearances in 2014 and 2017.\u00a0\u00a0
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\nPrice will take over as the second full-time head coach in program history, following in the footsteps of Mike Reed and interim head coach Jason Miller<\/a>. Miller led the Patriots to a 42-14 record this season, a second-place finish in the LSC standings, and their fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament.\u00a0\u00a0
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\nWhat others are saying about Coach Dani Price:\u00a0
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\nGlenn Moore, Head Coach, Baylor Softball\u00a0
\n“I think UT Tyler just hired one of the greatest minds in softball.\u00a0I\u00a0couldn’t be more excited for the student athletes who will get, not only a great softball education but a lifelong mentor and counselor who is passionate about preparing them for competition and life.\u00a0I have said many times; “the softball world needs more\u00a0like\u00a0Dani Price”, congratulations Patriots,\u00a0you got the real one!”\u00a0
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\nBridget Martin, Athletic Director, McNeese State\u00a0
\n“Dani Price has a bright future as the\u00a0head\u00a0softball\u00a0coach at UT Tyler. The experience she brings as player, director of operations, and assistant coach has prepared her for this opportunity. She is a fierce competitor, a great mentor and a true leader. Dani is a winner on and off the field. Congratulations\u00a0Coach Price\u00a0as you continue to make your McNeese family proud!”\u00a0
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\nNatalie Poole, Head Coach, Southern Mississippi\u00a0
\n“I had the honor of recruiting and coaching Coach Price. She was a great athlete and an even\u00a0better\u00a0person. She loves the game of softball, loves forming relationships with those she works around, and will nurture any program she is a part of. I believe she\u00a0will be\u00a0a great addition\u00a0to your university and\u00a0athletic\u00a0department. I look forward to watching her success on and off the field with this program.”\u00a0
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\nCori Bolts, Deputy AD and SWA, TCU\u00a0(Formerly of Baylor)\u00a0
\n“Dani is an outstanding\u00a0coach\u00a0and I could not be more excited for her! She’s a fierce competitor, strong mentor for young women and the definition of a servant leader. She played an invaluable role on\u00a0our team at Baylor and knows what it takes to be successful. As great as she is as a coach, she’s an even better person. I look forward to seeing her impact at UT Tyler.”\u00a0
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\nChris Davis, Athletic Director, Georgia Southern\u00a0
\n“Dani Price is one of the bright young leaders in collegiate softball and someone who has made a lasting impact everywhere she has been. During her time at Georgia Southern, she built strong relationships with our student-athletes, coaches, and staff while\u00a0demonstrating\u00a0an unwavering commitment to their success both on and off the field. We are grateful for all she did for Eagle Nation and excited to see her continue to grow as a leader at UT Tyler. Congratulations to Dani and the entire UT Tyler Athletics family on this outstanding hire.”\u00a0
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\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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