Ricci Woodard
Career Record (entering 2018 season): 598-380-1 (17 seasons)
Record at Texas State (entering 2018 season): 598-380-1 (17 seasons)
In 17 years at the helm of the Texas State softball program, head coach Ricci Woodard has guided the program to a 598-380-1 record, 10 conference championships and seven NCAA Regional Championship appearances.
Woodard has developed 75 all-conference sections, 22 all-region honorees, four NFCA All-Americans and three CoSIDA Academic All-Americas. In addition, Woodard has earned four coach of the year awards.
The 2017 season saw Woodard lead the Bobcats to a 42-17 overall record, a runner-up finish in both the Sun Belt regular season standings and the conference championship and an at-large berth to the NCAA College Station Regional. The Bobcats’ 42 wins marked the third-most in program history and most since the 2003 season, while the 18 league wins were the most since joining the Sun Belt Conference. The Bobcats ranked 11th in the NCAA with a 1.72 team ERA and 25th with a .712 winning percentage, while boasting the nation’s 29th ranked RPI and 46th-toughest schedule.
Woodard coached junior pitcher Randi Rupp to NFCA Second Team All-American, NFCA First Team All-Central Region, Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year and Sun Belt First Team honors. In addition, Woodard aided junior shortstop Ariel Ortiz to NFCA All-Central Region Second Team and First Team All-Sun Belt recognition as the slugger set both the TXST single season and career home run records with 15 and 33, respectively.
The 2016 campaign proved to be another success under Woodard as the Bobcats earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, finished with a 40-22 overall record, including a 15-9 mark in Sun Belt play to finish third in the league standings. The Bobcats also advanced to the program’s first Sun Belt Championship game in just its third season in the conference. Sophomore pitcher Randi Rupp earned All-Sun Belt First Team honors along with NFCA Second Team All-Region honors, while ranking third in the nation with 335 strikeouts. Also earning conference recognition were second team honorees Corrina Liscano and Taylor Webb.
In their second season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, Woodard led the Bobcats to a 14-6 conference record and third place finish with freshman pitcher Randi Rupp pacing the league in strikeouts with 293. Rupp finished the year with a 24-14 overall record and joined Courtney Harris, Ariel Ortiz, and Kendall Wiley in earning All-Sun Belt Conference honors at the end of the season. Those same four student-athletes also earned NFCA All-Region honors, marking the most selections in school history.
On March 15, 2015, Woodard won her 500th career game at Texas State against Georgia State at home. Another statement victory for the Bobcats in 2015 was against then-No. 8 UL Lafayette by a score of 14-13.
The 2014 season brought continued change for Woodard and the Texas State softball team as the Bobcats were new members of the Sun Belt Conference, their third conference in as many seasons. Texas State finished with a fifth place finish in the standings after earning key victories such as taking two out of three from then-ranked No. 11 South Alabama. Four Bobcats were recognized on the SBC All-Conference Second-Team at the end of the season.
Also in 2014, Rayn House and Courtney Harris became the first Bobcats since the 2012 season to earn NFCA Division I All-Region Second-Team honors for the Central Region. It was also the first time since 2010 that Texas State had two players chosen to a team. House finished her two-year Bobcat career in the top-10 in wins, shutouts, and strikeouts.
In 2013, Woodard led the Bobcats to a fourth-place finish in the WAC, the second conference in as many seasons for Texas State. At the conclusion of the season, five players were recognized with Second-Team All-WAC honors.
During the 50th anniversary of the Southland Conference, Woodard was selected as the All-Time Winningest Coach in SLC history with a 249-75-1 conference record from 2001-12. In addition, Woodards former players McKenzie Baack, Ragan Blake, Jessica Chase, Haley Gaddis, Chandler Hall, Nicole Neuerburg, Alex Newton, Katie Ann Trahan, and Kristen Zaleski were all selected to the SLC All-Time softball team.
Woodard and her Bobcats capped off their Southland Conference careers with a regular season and tournament crown, as well as a trip to the 2012 NCAA College Station Regional in 2012. Texas State had six players named to the All-Conference team, while senior Chandler Hall was voted SLC Player and Pitcher of the Year. Woodard was also selected SLC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career. Five players received SLC All-Tournament accolades, while Hall became the first three-time MVP in league history. Hall also was the first Four-Time All-Region honoree in Bobcat history. The 2012 squad posted the third-best winning percentage in school history at .696 (39-17), and the 39 wins was the fourth-most in school history.
In 2011, Texas State won the Southland Conference Tournament title and earned a trip to the NCAA Austin Regional. Woodard’s squad finished the season with the second-best batting average in school history at .268, while a league-leading seven players were named to the All-Conference teams. Four Bobcats also received All-Tournament team honors. Chandler Hall was named the MVP of the SLC Tournament for the second time in her career and picked up her third All-Region distinction. Four players were also named to the SLC All-Academic team for their classroom achievements.
The 2010 season was an up and down roller coaster campaign for Texas State, but the Bobcats managed to hold on to share the conference title with Stephen F. Austin to make it a three-peat.
Individually, Chandler Hall earned SLC Pitcher of the Year honors for the second-straight year. Hall’s honor earned Texas State the seventh overall and fifth-straight; all under Woodard. The Bobcats also featured three All-Conference and All-Academic selections, four All-Tournament team members, two All-Region players and one CoSIDA All-District honoree.
Texas State beat five Big 12 teams in 2009, to pad its resume after earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Waco Regional. The Bobcats run ruled No. 13 Northwestern in its first game.
Chandler Hall earned Southland Conference Freshman and Pitcher of the Year honors, while senior Alex Newton earned the Southland Conference Softball Player and Student-Athlete of the Year awards. Both players received Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region team honors.
Texas State had six players named to the 2009 SLC All-Conference teams, as the Bobcats finished the season 40-18 for their second 40+ win season since 2003.
Woodard was named the 2008 Southland Conference Coach of the Year for the third time in her career, after leading her team to a first place showing at the end of the regular season.
In 2008, the Bobcats recorded a 35-18 record. They started the conference schedule winning eight straight games, and ended the season winning five of their last six games to finish 25-5 in the SLC. While leading her team to a first place finish, Woodard had eight of her players named to the SLC All-Conference Team to lead all teams. Senior pitcher Ragan Blake was named SLC Pitcher of the Year, while newcomer McKenzie Baack was voted SLC Hitter of the Year.
In 2007, Texas State finished 32-26 overall and 18-12 in the SLC. Among the 32 wins was a 3-0 win at No. 18 Texas. The Bobcats also advanced to the final day of the Southland Conference Tournament before falling to tournament champion Sam Houston State.
In 2006, the Bobcats finished 34-22 overall, going 18-5 in conference play to finish second place in the regular season standings. Texas State also defeated No. 1 ranked Texas, 2-1, in extra innings before a record crowd of more than 1,100 at Bobcat Field. The Longhorns were one of five 2006 opponents for the Bobcats that made the NCAA Tournament Field. As the second seed in the 2006 SLC Tournament, the Bobcats defeated Nicholls and Northwestern State, but fell to UT Arlington in a loser’s bracket game.
Texas State struggled to a 26-27 overall mark in 2005, the only season Woodard’s team has failed to finish above .500 at that time. However, the Bobcats still showed they were among the Southland’s best teams, going 18-8 in conference play to finish tied for second in the standings.
In 2004, Texas State finished 37-20, and had a second place in the SLC. With the 37 victories Woodard became the all-time wins leader among Texas State softball coaches as she passed Pam Wuestenberg, who guided the first 10 Bobcat softball teams, for the record with her 172nd win.
Woodard guided the Bobcats to a 46-18-1 record in 2003. Finishing 21-5-1 in the SLC, the Bobcats placed second in the regular season race, but still earned an NCAA Tournament bid. It marked the second year Woodard’s team played in an NCAA regional tournament. The Bobcats went 3-2 in the Austin Regional, falling to eventual Women’s College World Series participant Texas in the regional finals after earning wins over Arizona State, Northwestern and Hawai’i.
The 2002 season brought the second straight SLC championship to San Marcos as the Bobcats posted a 37-22 overall record and went 23-4 in the SLC. The SLC title was the fourth in the program’s then-17 year history.
The season also marked the second-consecutive year that Woodard was honored as the SLC Coach of the Year. In 2001, Woodard took the helm at Texas State as the program’s fourth head coach and immediately had unprecedented success. The Bobcats had their best record in program history (54-12), a SLC title, an SLC Tournament Championship and earned an appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament. Texas State advanced to the regional finals before bowing out to eventual 2001 NCAA National Champion Arizona.
Woodard has had three former players play in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league. They are Nicole Neuerburg, Kristen Zaleski and Alex Newton. Zaleski was named the 2005 NPF Most Valuable Player and is now an assistant coach for the Dallas Charge, the NPF’s newest member who joined the league in 2015.
Prior to coaching her current post with Texas State, Woodard served as an assistant coach at the University of Oregon for four seasons. In her first collegiate coaching experience, Woodard helped lead the Ducks to three consecutive national top 25 finishes and three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Regional Championships.
Woodard began her coaching career working with high school teams. Prior to becoming a Duck, she worked as head coach at Midland (TX) High School. The Bulldogs won a district title for the first time in school history under Woodard’s guidance.
She also successfully started a softball program at Brazosport High School in Freeport, before going to Midland and eventually entering college coaching.
As a player, Woodard played infield at Central Arizona Junior College, where she served as team captain. She also played at New Mexico State and graduated with a B.S. in education in 1991.
Woodard played high school ball at Carlsbad (N.M.) High School, where her team won three New Mexico High School State Championships during her four years.
Woodard has two sons, Joey and Alex.
