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[OldTimer]

Segal tabbed to head UNT softball program

New coach has history of winning teams

08/15/2002

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

North Texas officially started its softball program Wednesday with the hiring of coach Stacey Segal.

UNT will field a team in the fall of 2003 and begin competing in the Sun Belt Conference in the spring of 2004.

Segal, who compiled a record of 136-49-1 in the last four seasons at Navarro College, played at Texas A&M from 1991-?93. From 1994-?96, she was the head coach at Northwood University, where she had a record of 71-40.

"I feel very honored and proud to be the new head coach of the University of North Texas," Segal said at a press conference outside of West Hall. "A dream has really come true for me. As a coach, I set my goal long ago to be in a competitive Division I program. I?m here today to tell you this will be a competitive program."

UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said he was seeking a young, energetic coach with a history of winning and a proven track record as a recruiter.

"She?s been a success everywhere she?s been," Villarreal said. "In the interview process, we interviewed some of the best in the country. We got everything we?re looking for. We?re really excited."

At Navarro College, Segal relied heavily on Texas talent to win three Texas Eastern Athletic Conference titles and make two appearances each in the NJCAA Region XIV Championships and the NJCAA National Tournament. She said one of her first priorities at UNT will be to tap back into that talent to build the foundation of the program.

"We?re in the enviable position of being a start-up Division I program with the ability to compete at the national level," Segal said. "There?s a great deal of talent in the Metroplex area, and I?m chomping at the bit to get started in recruiting. There are some great players in Texas who are already in [high school] programs where winning is ingrained. I will be going to those young ladies to get this program started."

Texas Woman?s University coach Diane Baker, who signed several Navarro players during Segal?s tenure, described Segal as a tremendous recruiter who will be able to quickly build UNT into a winner.

"She?ll have an immediate impact [recruiting] in the North Texas area," said Baker, who Segal referred to as a mentor. "She has an extremely good work ethic and doesn?t mind getting dirty and getting things done. She?s a perfect fit for North Texas."

In addition to her head coaching experience at the collegiate level, Segal served as the head coach at Wylie High School for one season, recording a 21-10 record. She was also an assistant at Texas-San Antonio from 1996-?97.

UNT, which previously sponsored softball as a varsity sport from 1985-?88, now has 16 sports, meeting a proposed Division I-A requirement.

TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572.