Boaz named UWA head softball coach

from UWA Athletics

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Carie Dever Boaz has been named head softball coach at the University of West Alabama, according to an announcement today by Director of Athletics Stan Williamson.

“We are very pleased to have Carie Dever Boaz join the UWA athletic staff as our head softball coach,” Williamson said. “Carie brings both a wealth of successful experience from the highest level of softball to UWA and a family eager to be a part of the Livingston community. We know that Carie will be a great teacher of the game and of life for the young women who play softball at UWA.”

A collegiate softball coaching veteran, Dever Boaz comes to UWA from Northwest Mississippi Community College, where she has served as an assistant coach for the last three seasons. Dever Boaz has 22 years of college softball coaching experience, including eight as head coach at the University of Arkansas.

“I am really excited to get to work in building a national level program at UWA,” Dever Boaz said. “I am excited about the foundation that has been laid and ready to take the program to the next level.

“The moment I stepped on campus it felt like home,” Dever Boaz said. “The entire athletic department is energetic, hard-working and it felt like my family.”

In eight seasons at Arkansas, Dever Boaz coached the Razorbacks to five SEC Tournament appearances and two NCAA Regional berths. In 1999, the SEC named Dever Boaz Coach of the Year after leading the Razorbacks to a 46-29 record and a runner-up finish in the conference tournament. She coached eight All-SEC players, one all-region performer and two NCAA regional all-tournament players at Arkansas.

Other Division I coaching stops for Dever Boaz include assistant positions at Virginia (2006-08), Florida (2005-06) and South Carolina (1993-95). She also coached at Magnolia Heights High School (2009-13), leading the the Lady Chiefs to five state tournament appearances and two runner-up finishes. She began her coaching career in 1990 as the head varsity softball and volleyball coach at Tulare Western High School in Tulare, California.

In 2007, Dever Boaz left the college ranks to coach in the National Pro Fastpitch League for the Washington Glory. She guided the team to a combined 64-28 record over two seasons, winning the World Title in 2007 and finishing as runner-up in 2008. She was named the 2007 National Manager of the Year.

Northwest posted a 74-42 record in her three seasons on staff. In 2014, the Rangers set single-season school records in slugging percentage (.492), hits (390), doubles (83), triples (22), stolen bases (143), hit-by-pitch (48), RBIs (253) and total bases (550). Boaz was recognized as the 2014 NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in NJCAA Division II.

Dever Boaz played collegiately at Fresno State, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health science in 1990. She reached the NCAA Women’s College World Series championship game in three consecutive seasons and was selected to the all-tournament team twice.

She was a NCAA All-American three times while playing third base and pitching for the Bulldogs, earning Big West Conference Player of the Year as a senior after compiling a 25-6 record with 31 complete games and 155 strikeouts. She still ranks among the leaders in Fresno State history for various pitching and batting statistical categories. She posted an 84-12 pitching record with 56 shutouts and six no-hitters during her four seasons.

She was also a two-time Academic All-American and was named Big West Scholar of the Year in 1990. Dever Boaz was inducted into the Fresno State University Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 1, 2012.

Dever Boaz conducts international softball clinics in Holland, Canada, Italy and Australia for coaches as well as players. She has appeared as a feature speaker and instructor for various well-known clinics throughout the United States. In addition, she authored the book “The Art of Pitching” as well as five instructional softball videos.

Dever is married to Bruce Dever Boaz. They have a 20-year-old son, Max, and an 8-year-old daughter, Macie.