UCF Softball Head Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie made a huge splash by hiring former Texas assistant coach Corrie Hill on Wednesday.
“Our coaching staff gains so much with the addition of Corrie,” Gillispie said in a release. “She adds tremendous experience after having helped lead Texas to two Women’s College World Series, and has worked with some extremely talented players. We are excited to welcome her to the UCF family.”
Welcome Coach Hill
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) August 3, 2016
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Texas made the Softball postseason in each of Hill's 11 seasons in Austin, she has two Women’s College World Series appearances to show for it, in 2006 and 2013.
“I like to believe Coach Hill and I had a great relationship while she was at Texas," said Megan Willis, a former All-American catcher at Texas exclusively to In The Circle and Black and Gold Banneret. "She became more of a mentor and even more [of a] friend to me.”
Willis had her two best hitting seasons under Hill's tutelage in 2006 and 2007, including a career-high .293 in her senior season. Willis ranked third on the squad in batting average, second in hits (49) and second in doubles (10) that year.
“She was the first coach who was able to truly explain hitting to me and used verbiage I was able to understand. I also learned a lot about having an approach or a game plan when it came to hitting," Willis continued. "I only wished I had all 4 years with her."
Willis went on to the National Pro Fastpitch softball league, winning four championships before retiring from playing after 2015 season.
In addition to Willis, Hill also coached All-Americans Cat Osterman and Taylor Thom on to professional careers.
“I am incredibly happy for her next coaching chapter with UCF," said Willis, who is currently an assistant coach with the NPF's USSSA Pride. "She’s an incredible coach and they [UCF] are so fortunate to get such a smart and determined leader."
Hill will be in charge of help improve the Knights' offense, which combined to post a .257 average and 3.7 runs per game as a team last season. By comparison, in her last season at Texas, Hill's Longhorns hit .300, averaging more than five runs per game in 2016.
Coach Hill is active on Twitter at @CoachHillUTXSB.