No. 2 USA adds Olympians to Women’s Softball National Team coaching staffs

OKLAHOMA CITY (USA) – USA Softball, the governing body for softball in the U.S., has announced the complete coaching staff for the USA Women’s and Junior Women’s Softball National Teams. Selected from the USA Softball Coaching Pool, the coaches selected will lead their respective programs as they compete in 2017.

Joining USA Softball Women’s Head Coach Ken Eriksen on the coaching staff are Howard Dobson, Tairia Flowers (2004 Gold and 2008 Silver medalist), John Rittman, and Heather Tarr.

Both Dobson and Rittman were part of the USA Softball WNT coaching staff who helped lead the U.S. to a Gold Medal finish at last year’s WBSC Women’s World Championship.  Flowers returns to the USA Softball WNT coaching staff with prior experience coaching the Junior Women’s National Team and most recently leading the USA Softball Women’s Elite Team, who competed alongside the WNT in the World Cup of Softball XI last summer. This will be Tarr’s first season as a coach for the National Team program.

The USA Women’s National Team will compete at the World Cup of Softball XII and at the Pan American Games/WBSC World Championship Qualifier in 2017.

Joining USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team Head Coach Laura Berg (three-time Gold and 2008 Silver medalist) on the coaching staff are Trisha Ford, Kristie Fox, Natasha Watley (2004 Gold and 2008 Silver medalist), and Lori Harrigan-Mack (three-time gold medalist).  This marks the second-consecutive season for Ford and Fox on the USA Softball JWNT coaching staff, while Watley and Harrigan-Mack will have their first stint as coaches with the National Team program.

The USA U-19 Women’s National Team will compete this year at the World Cup of Softball XII and the WBSC Junior Women’s World Championship, which will be held 24-30 July in Clearwater, Fla.