Laura Watten
The Terrapins softball team entered this past season hoping to qualify for its fourth NCAA tournament appearance in five years. But a miserable start to the year and struggles in conference play led to the worst record in program history.
However, the Terps’ move from the ACC to the Big Ten gives the program, which has never participated in the NCAA Women’s College World Series, a chance to redefine itself. And Monday, this university made its choice as to who will lead the Terps into the new era when it hired former Louisville assistant Courtney Scott to coach.
Scott served as an assistant with the Terps in 2009 and 2010, and she takes over for coach Laura Watten, whose contract expired in the offseason after nine years with the program.
“I’ve been very careful in waiting for the right move to be a head coach because I wanted to go some place where I know I can be there a while, and somewhere I liked,” Scott said. “So when the Maryland job opened, it was very exciting. It was a dream job for me.”
Scott has found success both as a coach and as a player. In four seasons as an assistant with the Cardinals, Scott helped the team to a combined 176-60 record — including a 55-5 mark in 2012 — and four NCAA tournament appearances. Not to mention, as a player at California Berkeley, Scott was a part of four straight NCAA Women’s College World Series appearances and won a national title in 2002.
“What I bring to the table is knowing how to win and get the most out of the players I work with,” Scott said. “But more than anything, these girls want to do it.”
Scott, a former All-American catcher, worked with pitchers and catchers in her first stint in College Park. In 2010, the Terps’ pitching staff led the ACC with a 1.71 ERA and propelled the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in more than a decade.
Scott said she will continue working with the pitchers and catchers this season. Assistant coach Jillian Callaway, who joined the Terps as the pitching coach in 2012, will help out as well.
“I know Jillian very well, and she’s done a great job,” Scott said. “I will definitely use her as a resource.”
In the circle, Scott inherits a pitching staff filled with both experience and youth. Senior Kaitlyn Schmeiser has been a constant on the mound for the past three years. Schmeiser and junior Madison Martin will likely stabilize the beginning of the rotation while redshirt sophomore Brenna Nation and sophomore Hannah Dewey will provide depth.
“Pitching has changed in general in the past five to 10 years to where you can’t just rely on one arm,” Scott said. “My plan is to pitch as a committee to make them a little more effective.”
The Terps also bring in freshman pitcher Meghan King, who will join Dewey as the second left-handed pitcher. King is one of four players in the 2014 recruiting class, which was ranked the 25th best group in the nation by Student Sports.
Scott believes that the Terps’ struggles last season were an anomaly and not a sign of what lies ahead for the team in the Big Ten. As of Monday, it’s her job to ensure a brighter future for the program.
“I’ve played and coached at the top level, so I am just ready to hit the ground running,” Scott said. “We’re going to do big things this year.”
