Title: Head coach, University of Texas
Sport: Fastpitch Softball
UT Record: 469-225-3

Few coaches can boast of successful 13-year spans in their careers, and even fewer can claim such a span at the beginning of their head coaching days. Since starting The University of Texas’ softball program in 1996, Connie Clark has not only been successful, she has built one of the most successful programs in college softball.

In only 12 seasons as a varsity program, Clark - the 1987 Broderick National Softball Player of the Year as a collegian - has led UT to four Women’s College World Series appearances (1998, 2003, 2005 and 2006), nine NCAA Tournament appearances (1998-2000, 2002-03, 2005-08), five Big 12 Conference Tournament titles (1999, 2002, 2003 and 2005) and three Big 12 regular-season titles (2002, 2003 and 2006). In fact, Texas’ appearance in the 1998 WCWS - in just its second varsity season - still ranks as the quickest arrival at the NCAA Division I softball “”Elite Eight”" tournament in the history of the sport.

Clark’s overall record at UT is 469-225-3 (.675).

Texas is at the forefront of the national and international softball scene. Clark has produced one national player of the year (three times), six All-Americans, five Academic All-Americans and countless All-Big 12 honorees.

The Longhorns can also claim two Olympic gold medalists (pitchers Cat Osterman and Christa Williams), and a total of six national and junior national team members, including four members of the 2006 Texas squad (Tina Boutelle, Meagan Denny, Osterman and Desiree Williams).

For Clark and her assistants’ efforts developing the Texas program, the coaching staff was honored as the 2006 NFCA Midwest Region coaching Staff of the Year after being named the 2003 Speedline/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Coaching Staff of the Year. Her Big 12 peers also recognized Clark as the 2002 and 2006 Big 12 Coach of the Year.

In the last 10 years, her Texas players have earned three USA Softball National Player of the Year Awards (Cat Osterman in 2003, 2005 and 2006), two Honda Awards (Osterman in 2005 and 2006) and a total of 12 All-America honors. Clark had at least one athlete earn NFCA All-America honors during in each of the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 seasons, including Osterman, who is the program’s first four-time All-American.

Clark, a standout athlete in her playing days, has been associated with national-caliber softball programs everywhere she has been. As an assistant coach at Florida State (1990-95), Clark helped build the Seminoles into a national softball power and led FSU to four appearances in the NCAA Women’s College World Series and to five NCAA Regional appearances.

Under Clark’s direction, nearly every Florida State pitching record was broken during those five seasons. She helped coach six of her Florida State players to All-America honors, 23 to all-region honors and six to Academic All-America accolades.

Prior to coaching at Florida State, Clark was an outstanding pitcher in her own right, leading softball powerhouse Cal State Fullerton to the NCAA Women’s College World Series title as a junior in 1986.
A three-time All-America pitcher, Clark posted a 20-2 record with 197 strikeouts in 155.1 innings while leading the nation with a 0.18 earned run average in 1986. The following year, Clark posted a 33-5 record with 32 complete games, 19 shutouts and 261 strikeouts in 283 innings, earning the Broderick Award as National Softball Player of the Year. Clark’s career ERA of 0.37 as a Titan places her in the top 10 for career ERA in Division I softball.

Prior to her two-year stint with Cal State Fullerton, Clark pitched for Central Arizona Junior College under the direction of Mike Candrea, who is now the head softball coach for the five-time NCAA National Champion Arizona Wildcats and the gold-medal winning 2004 Olympic team. Under Candrea’s guidance, Clark led her team to back-to-back NJCAA championship crowns in 1984 and 1985.

For all of her success in the Arizona softball circles, Clark was inducted into the Arizona Softball Foundation Hall of Fame in August 2005.