Aggie skipper Shaw leaves CU for UGA
LAWTON, Okla. (October 25) – Cameron’s Brent Shaw resigned his position as head softball coach yesterday after being with the program for two years. He is leaving to accept an assistant coaching position with the University of Georgia Bulldogs softball team under head coach Lu Harris-Champer, who is in her eleventh season as head coach.
“I’m very excited,” Shaw said. “The opportunity to coach on such an established team under such an elite coach is thrilling.” Shaw will be the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator under Harris-Champer, who has led the Bulldogs to within a couple wins of the World Series the last three seasons.
“I’m very sad to leave Cameron though,” Shaw said. “Everyone has treated me as if I have been here forever and really made me feel at home. Cameron’s athletic department is definitely headed in the right direction and everyone is doing a great job with all of the sports.”
Last season the Aggies finished with an overall record of 23-31 and a conference record of 8-16 under Shaw. Additionally, three members of the Cameron softball team earned postseason honors in the Lone Star Conference: junior shortstop Stephanie Bour earned All-LSC North Division first team honors, while senior outfielder Melinda Farrow was named to the All-LSC North second team. Freshman Megan Young earned honorable mention honors in the division, as well.
“I’m very sorry to see him go,” Athletic Director Jim Jackson said. “I have seen the great progress he has made with the program and we will surely miss him.”
While the loss of Shaw is a definite blow to the athletic department, there is some good that can come from it. “I am delighted personally because he (Shaw) now has the opportunity to coach at a Division I, Top 20 program,” Jackson added. “It is also a sort of feather in our hat that one of Cameron’s own can go to an elite program.”
Shaw came to Cameron after serving as an assistant coach at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. There he helped guide the Rambelles to the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship, and the coaching staff to the title of NCAA Division II Coaching Staff of the Year.
A native of Antlers, Okla., Shaw also spent one season as a graduate assistant at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, helping guide the Lady Savages to the LSC North Division title and an appearance in the South Central Regional Tournament in 2003.
A 2002 graduate of SOSU, Shaw also had successful coaching stints at Durant Junior High and as a volunteer assistant at Murray State College. He earned his Master’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Southeastern in 2004.
“There is never a good time for a coach to leave,” Jackson said. “Now we must move as quickly as possible to fill the position and find the best fit for the organization.”
The Cameron Aggie softball team begins its 2007 season on February 2nd in San Antonio, Texas at the St. Mary’s Tournament.
