Former Arizona Wildcats softball pitcher, Taryne Mowatt, has returned to Tucson to take a position as pitching coach on head coach Mike Candrea’s staff. Mowatt won back-to-back National Championships as one of the most dominant pitchers in UA history in 2006 and 2007.
“I hope to bring my experience, both playing and coaching the last couple of years,” Mowatt said. “At Ole Miss we played a lot of tough competition. It’s good to be here to be able to experience this environment and work with these pitchers that I know are talented and can be successful. I know they want to be at the World Series and hopefully we can work hard every day in the bullpen and get better and get back to Oklahoma City.”
Mowatt was dominant and hopes to bring that same mind set to the UA pitching staff. As a player, she set records with 42 victories and 522 strikeouts in 2007, which still remains according to Arizona Athletics.
Mowatt replaces Stacy Iveson as she moves to a new role to head the Wildcats’ recruiting and operations efforts. Iveson has been a part of the Wildcats staff for 12 years in various stints.
Mowatt comes to Arizona after her role in the same position at Ole Miss. During her time at Ole Miss, she lowered the Rebels earned run average from 4.30 in 2015 to 2.10 in 2017 which help lead them to 43 wins and a selection as NCAA regional host.
“It’s nice to have Taryne back at Hillenbrand and be able to share on her experiences here,” head coach Mike Candrea said. “…She’s a fierce competitor, I think she’ll bring that out of our pitching staff. I’ve watched her grow as a pitching coach and I think she is very ready for this challenge and really, really looking forward to it.”
Mowatt will attempt to help a staff that struggled to finish out games in last year’s Super Regional loss to Baylor. The incumbent ace of the staff, Taylor McQuillin being one of those pitchers. McQuillin sported a 1.92 era in 26 appearances last season, however, she gave up a three-run homer against Baylor, last season in relief of Danielle O’Toole that ultimately ended the Wildcats season.
“I followed her last year, she definitely had a successful high school career that has translated to a successful college career thus far,” Mowatt said. “I plan on getting to know her a lot better over these next couple of weeks in the bullpen leading up to the season.”
Candrea marked Mowatt’s fierceness as a competitor as one of the main reasons for her return after sifting through various candidates to fill the role.
“She pitched with a chip on her shoulder,” Candrea said in a statement from Athletics. “She’s the type of coach that will develop our pitchers to be the same competitive athlete she was. She’s gained great experience the last three years in the SEC facing good competition each and every week, which will help her in the Pac-12.”
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