BEVO BEAT Softball In a shake-up of its coaching staff, UT’s softball team moves on from hitting coach Kerry Shaw Posted June 22nd, 2019


After just one season, Texas has relieved Kerry Shaw of his duties as the softball team’s hitting coach.

UT announced its separation from Shaw on Monday. The school did not give a reason for the coaching change. In a statement, Texas coach Mike White said that “We’d sincerely like to thank Assistant Coach Kerry Shaw for his contributions to our success during the 2019 season. At this point, however, I feel that it’s in our best interest to move in a different direction going forward.”

A Texas team that could have up to eight seniors on next year’s roster will now have to hire its third hitting instructor in a four-season span.


Shaw was the only newcomer on White’s first staff at Texas since Chelsea Spencer and volunteer assistant Kailee Cuico had worked with White at Oregon. Shaw and White, though, did have a prior relationship. Previously, they were teammates on the USA Men’s National Fastpitch Softball Team. Before arriving at Texas, Shaw led the Division II program at the University of Mary for three seasons.

Shaw, who was paid $120,000 for his work during the 2018-19 school year, did help Texas improve its offensive numbers this spring. The Longhorns posted their best batting average since 2014 (.302) and their most homers since 2016 (41). UT’s 91 doubles were a school record.

Texas did only rank 74th nationally with its 5.03 runs per game. In its 20 games ahead of the NCAA tournament, the Longhorns exceeded that average only twice. That offensive swoon and a 12-8 record down the homestretch possibly cost the team a chance to host a super regional. Instead, UT (46-17) had its season ended in Alabama’s super regional.

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