Mathis Named Kansas Assistant Softball Coach
June 22, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Former All-American softball player and two-time all-region selection D.J. Mathis has been named assistant softball coach at the University of Kansas, head coach Megan Smith announced Tuesday.
The second overall pick in the 2009 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft by the Akron Racers, Mathis was a standout pitcher at the University of Oklahoma from 2006-09 and left OU as one of the most decorated pitchers in school history. She owns the program’s second-best winning percentage (.768) after going 76-23 in four seasons with the Sooners and posted a 1.90 career ERA. She is listed in the top 10 of eight Oklahoma career pitching statistics.
“We are really excited that D.J. is going to be a part of the Jayhawk softball family,” said Smith. “She brings a tremendous amount of experience, enthusiasm and expertise. D.J. will be working with our pitching staff. She has had great success in developing pitchers as a student assistant at Oklahoma and was obviously a highly decorated pitcher for the Sooners. “
A native of Alton, Ill., Mathis served as a student assistant coach at Oklahoma for the 2010 season, during which the Sooners won the Big 12 Softball Championship and advanced to an NCAA Super Regional before wrapping their season with a 47-12 overall record. While on staff at OU, Mathis helped guide the Sooners into one of the top pitching squads in the country as Oklahoma was second in the nation with a 1.39 team ERA. She was also instrumental in developing All-Big 12 First-Team freshman pitcher Keilani Ricketts, who led the Big 12 with a 1.24 ERA and 32 wins.
During her career as a student-athlete, Mathis helped the Sooners to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2007 Big 12 Softball Championship. During her junior season in 2008, Mathis was an NFCA All-America Second-Team selection, while also earning her first of two All-Midwest Region and All-Big 12 First-Team appointments.
“I’m from the Midwest and I’ve played in the Big 12 and I knew that Kansas was a place I wanted to be,” said Mathis. “I understand the type of program Coach Smith is trying to build and I want to be a part of that and help develop her program. I’m excited to be able to work with the Kansas pitching staff and apply what I have learned over the past five years as a player and a coach.”
Mathis was a four-year letterwinner in softball at Roxana High School in Roxana, Ill., where she earned all-state honors three times. She is the Illinois state record holder with 1,450 career strikeouts.
“She’s a fierce competitor with a great energy and enthusiasm for the game,” Smith said of Mathis. “She will be able to bring that competitive spirit and enthusiasm to our players.”
