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CWU Names Holtman Head Coach

Holtman

(7/30/10) - Mallory Holtman, who served as a graduate assistant coach the past two seasons, has been selected as the third head coach in the history of Central Washington University's softball program

"Mallory is a rising star in the sport of softball," CWU athletic director Jack Bishop said. "She has been the face of this program (as a player and as a graduate assistant coach) for quite a long time now.

"She bleeds Central softball and we are very excited about the direction in which she can lead this program (as head coach) for years to come."

Holtman, 25, has been involved with the CWU program for more than one-third of its 18-year existence.

The White Salmon, Wash., native played five seasons (2004-08 including a medical hardship season in 2005) before joining the coaching staff.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from CWU in 2008, Holtman enrolled in the athletic administration graduate program at Central Washington and embarked on her first collegiate coaching stint.

Over the past two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for longtime Wildcat mentor Gary Frederick, Holtman was responsible for coaching the hitters and infielders and assisted with recruiting of student-athletes.

Central set school records for single-season victories both years in which Holtman assisted, totaling 73 wins over the 2009 and 2010 seasons and earning the program's first-ever postseason berth this past spring. She completed requirements for her Master's degree in June.

"You cannot replace an individual like Gary Frederick," Holtman said. "But to be able to have the opportunity to step into his shoes and continue his legacy is truly an honor."

With Holtman's influence, Central shattered the previous single-season school record for batting average (.337), runs scored (312), and home runs (50) this past season.

The Wildcat defense also posted a .959 fielding percentage in 2010 -- the second-best mark in the program's history. She was also an integral part in the recruitment of three of the program's top performers from the 2010 squad in transfers Kelsey Haupert, Samantha Petrich and GNAC Pitcher of the Year Lauren Hadenfeld.

As a player, Holtman set numerous school statistical records and capped her career by earning GNAC Player of the Year honors as a senior.

One of only two players in conference history to earn first-team all-GNAC honors four times, she batted .365 with school-record totals of 35 home runs, 128 runs batted in and 206 hits.

During her final season as a student-athlete, she was also instrumental in putting Central Washington University and Ellensburg on the national map, when her act of sportsmanship in assisting an injured Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University during a game garnered national and international media attention.

Holtman, former teammate Liz Wallace, and Tucholsky all received ESPY Awards in July, 2008 for their involvement in the sportsmanship act.

Holtman becomes just the third head coach the program has known since becoming an intercollegiate varsity sport in 1993.

Nancy Katzer coached the Wildcats for two seasons before Frederick took over coaching duties prior to the 1995 season and guided the program for the next 16 years. All three head coaches in the program's history are alumni of CWU.

Western Washington Name Ex-Husky New Coach

Amy Suiter

(7/17/10) - Amy Suiter, who has Division I head coaching experience, is the new head softball coach at Western Washington University.

“Amy has an outstanding resume, and I believe that she is the right person to take our program to the next level,” said WWU athletic director Lynda Goodrich said.

“She’s had a variety of experiences both as a coach and teacher of the game. Her educational background is outstanding and her passion for softball shines through.”

The 29-year-old Suiter, who coached at her alma mater Mount Vernon (Wash.) High School last spring, was the interim head coach at Texas Tech in 2009 after three years as an assistant for the Red Raiders.

Suiter (maiden name Hanson) attended the University of Washington where she was a catcher for the nationally ranked Huskies. She was the team captain as a junior and senior, team co-MVP as a junior, Golden Glove award winner as a senior, and most improved as a freshman.

Washington qualified for NCAA post-season play in each of Suiter’s four years there, participating in the College World Series in 2000 and 2003.

After graduating from Washington in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Suiter was co-owner of a softball/baseball academy in Redmond, Wash., for two years working with individuals and teams ranging from ages 8-18.

Suiter was named an assistant coach at Texas Tech in 2006. She is currently working on a doctorate degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis on sports psychology.

Suiter, who officially begins her duties at Western on August 1, and husband Dustin, have a daughter, Haley, seven months.

A 1999 graduate of Mount Vernon, Suiter was a four-year Skagit Valley Herald all-Area and all-league pick for Bulldogs. She becomes the fourth coach in the history of Western’s softball program which began in 1993.

Suiter replaces Lonnie Hicks, who resigned last May after nine seasons as Western’s coach. The Vikings posted a 27-25 record in 2010 and placed third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 22-17.