It’s not unusual for a travel team to consistently change its roster from year to year. Coaches are often on the lookout for talent as players enter college or move to another organization.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Coming off the program’s second national title, West Texas A&M University head coach Michael Mook and his staff have been voted by their peers as the 2021 NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year, the Association announced Tuesday afternoon.

Find the 2021 Tulsa Elite Summer Invite softball photo gallery. Photos by Rob Ferguson of USA TODAY Sports.

With a 5-1 win over Florida State in Wednesday afternoon’s winner-take-all game three of the 2021 NCAA Softball Women’s College World Series, the Oklahoma Sooners captured their third Nationa Championship in five years. The national title is OU coach Patty Gasso’s fifth while in Norman.

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Following the retirement of legendary head coach Mike Candrea on Monday, Arizona Athletics has announced the promotion of Caitlin Lowe, who has been chosen as the next head coach of Arizona Softball.One of the best players in Arizona history and the history of the sport, Lowe has spent the last nine seasons under Candrea and will now become the Wildcats' seventh head coach in program history. "Coach Candrea has built a culture of excellence that puts his players at the forefront," said Lowe. "He has shown us all what it looks like to fiercely pursue our passion. He has led this team with integrity, class, and the upmost humility. I could not have asked for a better mentor in this game and most importantly in life. I take great pride in carrying on the tradition of what it means to be an Arizona Wildcat. I am so honored and extremely humbled to represent Tucson and the University of Arizona as your next head coach. Bear Down!"Lowe learned under Coach Candrea as a player both at Arizona and the U.S. Olympic Team and then for the last decade on his staff. "Caitlin Lowe has been a super star her entire life," said Candrea. "From her days as a four-time All-American at the University of Arizona to being a member of our USA Olympic Team to the National Pro Fastpitch league. Caitlin is special and she has continued that growth and success as the associate head coach for Arizona Softball. She is bright, a good communicator, understands what it takes having been there as an athlete, and the players love her. Without a doubt, Caitlin is the best person to continue the Arizona legacy into the future. She will be a super star for many years to come."Lowe was an outstanding player at the sport's highest levels, succeeding collegiately at Arizona, professionally with the USSSA Pride and internationally with Team USA, before returning her to alma mater to join Candrea's staff for the 2013 team. Lowe served as the program's director of operations in 2013 and then the volunteer assistant coach in 2014 before joining the coaching staff full time in 2015. She has served as the team's associate head coach for the last four seasons, and will now take over as head coach for the 2022 season."We are excited to have Caitlin Lowe lead our storied softball program," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "Caitlin represents championship excellence as a student-athlete, coach and alumni of our nationally-renowned program. Her experience playing and coaching the game at the highest levels are the foundation of her outstanding coaching pedigree. She has played a key role in the program's legacy under hall of fame coach Mike Candrea and established herself as a rising star in softball coaching. I look forward to Arizona Softball's future as it continues its first-class success on the field, in the classroom and in our community."Lowe, a letterwinner from 2004-07, boasts some of the most impressive credentials in her time with the sport. A two-time national champion (2006 and 2007), Lowe's name is scattered throughout the Arizona record books: Lowe remains second in batting average (.446), fourth in hits (351), fourth in triples (12), seventh in runs scored (242) and first in stolen bases (156). She was unanimously named the greatest centerfielder of all time, both by a fan vote and by the 7Innings Podcast crew in its Greatest Softball Team of All-Time.In 2007, Lowe was awarded the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, given annually to the senior displaying excellence in the community, the classroom, character and in competition, as well as the adidas Golden Shoe Award, given to the nation's best base-stealer. The Tustin, Calif., native was a two-time finalist for the Honda Softball Award (2005 and 2007) as well as a finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year in 2005. Lowe is one of only six Wildcat players to be named an NFCA All-American in each of her four years with the program and joined Leah Braatz (1994, 95, 97, 98) as the only player in Arizona history to be awarded first-team All-America all four years.An Olympian in 2008, Lowe took home the silver medal competing for Team USA under Head Coach Mike Candrea. Lowe competed for Team USA from 2005-2008. One of the best centerfielders and leadoff hitters in the sport's history, Lowe has become an even better coach. She has made in immeasurable impact with UA's outfielders and its offense. Over the last five seasons with Lowe on staff, Arizona has a Pac-12 Championship, two trips to the Women's College World Series and four 40-win seasons, including a 52-9 year in 2017. Lowe will be introduced on Wednesday in a press conference at McKale Center. It will be streamed live beginning at 10:30 a.m. MST.

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State's Stacey Nuveman Deniz has been named the softball head coach, director of athletics John David Wicker announced on Tuesday. A three-time U.S. Olympian, Nuveman Deniz is just the fifth head coach in program history after spending the last 13 seasons with the Aztecs as an assistant, associate head coach and head coach in waiting under SDSU's all-time winningest coach Kathy Van Wyk. "I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity to lead San Diego State Softball into the future," Nuveman Deniz said. "Kathy Van Wyk spent 25 years building this program, and now it is my turn to take the reins and continue that growth. I would like to thank (SDSU director of athletics) John David Wicker for this opportunity and for the unwavering support he has shown me. The University, the city of San Diego and our incredible community have captured my heart and I truly am an Aztec for Life. I can't wait to get started." Nuveman Deniz, who was hired at San Diego State following her stint with the U.S. team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, helped SDSU to seven straight NCAA tournaments from 2009-15 and a combined 398-264 (.601) record in her 13 seasons on The Mesa. Over her first nine seasons as an assistant and associate coach, the Aztecs improved their batting average from .275 in 2008 (the year before she arrived) to a school-record .356 mark in 2017, and also in runs per game (3.98 to 6.61), home runs per game (0.23 to 1.09 (0.92 in 2017)), slugging percentage (.348 to .516) and on-base percentage (.347 to .418).     In 2018, Nuveman Deniz was the head coach of the National Pro Fastpitch's Chicago Bandits, leading the team to the NFP Championship season series in her first year. In the spring of 2010, Nuveman Deniz served as an assistant coach for the Women's National Team Selection Camp, at the Canadian Open Fast Pitch Women's International Championship and at the World Cup of Softball VI. She was also named to the USA Softball Coaching Pool in 2014 and was an assistant coach at the USA Softball Junior Women's (19-Under) National Team (JWNT) Selection Camp in January 2015. In addition to her two Olympic gold medals (2000 and 2004) and silver medal in 2008, Nuveman Deniz helped the United States National Team to a World Cup championship (2006), two World Championships (2002 and 2006) and two Pan American gold medals (1999 and 2003). Her 2004 Olympic gold medal team, meanwhile, was inducted into the U.S. Olympic hall of fame in July 2012. Nuveman Deniz was a standout at UCLA, finishing her four-year career with four NCAA records - 90 home runs, .945 slugging percentage, 240 walks and 81 intentional walks. She was a four-time first-team NFCA All-American (1997, 1999, 2001-02) and a three-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (1999, 2001-02). Nuveman Deniz is also ranked first in school history in games played (264), total bases (653) and on-base percentage (.600). Among the current all-time NCAA leaders, Nuveman Deniz ranks first in home runs per game (0.34), total bases (653) and intentional walks (81), second in slugging percentage (.945), third in home runs (90) and walks (240), fifth in RBIs (299), seventh in batting average (.466) In 1999, Nuveman Deniz led the Bruins to a national championship, batting .446 during the season with 31 home runs and 91 RBIs. For her efforts in the national title run, Nuveman was named to the all-Women's College World Series team. Nuveman Deniz was inducted into UCLA's hall of fame in October 2012. Nuveman Deniz has worked at a variety of camps and clinics, and is highlighted in the instructional video entitled, "The Fundamentals of Catching." In addition, Nuveman Deniz has worked color commentary for ESPN, CSTV (now CBS Sports) and FOX Sports. In addition to her on-field accomplishments, Nuveman Deniz also works with several organizations, including the Visalia Miracle League, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Nuveman Deniz graduated from UCLA in 2002 with a degree in sociology and public policy and later earned her master's in kinesiology from Texas Women's University in 2012. San Diego State finished the 2021 season with a 28-16 record, its ninth-best winning percentage (.636) in program history.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Thirty-six student-athletes from 22 schools have garnered 2021 NFCA National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I All-America Team recognition, the Association revealed on Friday. Seminole State’s (Okla.) Shea Moreno and Florida SouthWestern’s Alyssa O’Donnell took home the Schutt Sports / NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year honors, respectively.

2021 Final East vs. West PGF All Americans teams were announced and will air July 31 at 6:30 PM PT on ESPNU.