Complete DRC article on new coach..looks like a

[OldTimer]

UNT set to name Burns new softball coach

09:48 AM CDT on Wednesday, May 26, 2004

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas will introduce Kelly Burns as the school’s new head softball coach today.

Burns spent the last three seasons rebuilding the program at Texarkana Community College and took the Bulldogs to the junior college national tournament earlier this month.

"I am extremely excited," Burns said. "It’s a great opportunity at a great institution that has had a lot of success in its athletic department the last few years."

Burns will take over a program entering its second season since being reinstated by the UNT athletic department. Stacey Segal coached the team for the majority of its first season before abruptly resigning April 22 with 14 games left in the regular season. Assistant coach Angie Scharnhorst took over for the remainder of the year and led UNT to a win over Western Kentucky in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on May 13.

Scharnhorst has since left the program.

"The program needs stability," Burns said. "I am very big on the mental aspects of the game and staying in control."

That approach paid off for Burns at Texarkana. She took over the program that posted a 4-20 record in 2001 and immediately helped the team improve. Texarkana went 11-13 in Burns first year and 15-11 in her second year.

Texarkana went on to post its best season under Burns this last year when the Bulldogs advanced to the national tournament and finished with a 21-5 record after losing consecutive games at event.

"She has done a great job of turning the program around and getting it going in the right direction," Texarkana athletic director and baseball coach James Mansinger said. "She will handle the situation at UNT fine."

Mansinger said Burns’ personality and her ability to recruit as two of her best assets.

Burns will take over a UNT team that showed signs of developing during an up-and-down campaign. The Mean Green captured the Mean Green/Wells Fargo Classic Tournament title and won seven straight games in late March. UNT finished with a 22-57 record despite that run of success.

UNT did not have any seniors on its roster last season. Junior outfielder Stephanie Cranmer was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection, while freshman pitcher/outfielder Katy Maxey was a second-team selection as a designated player.

Burns will also have a recruiting class in place. Each member of Segal’s final recruiting class has signed a national letter of intent.

Burns played at UT-Arlington before finishing her career at Texas A&M in 1993. She is from Garland and recruited the Dallas area heavily during her time at Texarkana.

"The foundation is there to be successful," Burns said. "North Texas is in the Dallas area, which has a lot of quality players."

UNT fielded a softball team from 1985-88 before disbanding the team. The school reinstated the program in 2002.

"We have nowhere to go but up," Burns said. "I am looking forward to being a part of that."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.