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Kara Dill
Former Texas A&M assistant coach Kara Dill was named the 10th head coach of the UT Arlington softball program on July 8, 2022.
Following a successful 2024 campaign, Dill guided UTA to a quarterfinal appearance at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. The Mavericks capped the season with an overall record of 23-24 and a 14-11 record in conference action.
Fifth year transfer Camille Corona exceeded all expectations since joining the Mavericks for her final year of eligibility. Dill saw Corona to multiple postseason honors which included All-WAC First Team, All-WAC Defensive Team - Third Base, and NFCA All-Region - Third Team. Corona concluded the 2024 season with a team-high .401 batting average, 67 hits, 31 runs scored, a .463 on-base percentage and nine stolen bases. Corona finished with 19 multi-hit efforts including notable performances against then No. 14 Arkansas (Feb. 23) and No. 1 Oklahoma (Mar. 20).
Not only did the versatile player impact the Mavericks' offense, but on the field as well. The Austin native held her own at the hot corner, ending with a fielding percentage of .981. Across 56 games played, Corona committed just three errors making over 55 putouts and eight double plays.
In conference play alone, Corona ranked high in the WAC in multiple statistical batting categories which included batting average (4th, .443), on-base percentage (T-4th, .500) and hits (5th, 35).
In just her first year at the helm, Dill led the Mavericks to a 22-30 overall record with an 11-13 in WAC play while UTA finished in 6th place at the conference tournament in May of 2023.
Dill guided Marley Neises to All-WAC Second Team honors after an outstanding freshman campaign, logging a .382 batting average - 10th best in program history. Primarily working with the Maverick pitching staff, Dill led the two-player rotation to a 4.10 ERA compared a four-player staff and a 4.22 ERA a season ago.
Dill and her staff picked up notable victories against Texas Tech (2/10) in the season-opening Maverick Invitational and #8 Kentucky (2/17) in Celina, Texas at the Tracy Beard College Classic. 4.10
Dill (first name pronounced: care-uh) spent six seasons as the pitching coach for the Aggies, leading the staff to unprecedented heights. Prior to her time in Bryan-College Station, Dill – an All-SEC player at Kentucky – coached at her alma mater, in addition to LSU and the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league.
In 2022, Dill helped A&M to its 20th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance following six wins over nationally ranked opponents during the regular season. As a whole, the pitching staff combined for 13 shutouts during the 2022 campaign, led by two-way player Makinzy Herzog who went on to earn NFCA All-South Region and All-SEC First Team honors.
In 2021, A&M’s pitching staff recorded two no-hitters – which marked the first time the Aggies recorded multiple no-hitters in a season since 2013.
During her first season with A&M in 2017, Dill’s pitching staff lowered its ERA from 3.86 the year prior to 2.08 and propelled the Aggies to a Women’s College World Series berth.
Dill, who served as an assistant coach with the Scrapyard Dawgs in the NPF in 2016, spent two years at LSU (2015-16) assisting in all aspects of the program with a primary focus on the Tigers’ slap hitters.
During her first season in Baton Rouge, Dill led the talented squad to a remarkable season at the plate, led by Bailey Landry, who was named a Second Team All-American.
Prior to her time at LSU, Dill was a member of the coaching staff that paced Kentucky to its first trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2014.
As a player, Dill was one of the most feared leadoff hitters in the SEC while at UK (2009-13), kicking off her career with a 15-game hitting streak en route to a freshman season that saw her earn 71 hits – the 5th most for any Kentucky player in a single season. By the time she ended her career, Dill ranked 8th in UK history in hits with 201, 6th in stolen bases (57), 5th in batting average (.330) and 7th in runs scored (119) to go along with two All-SEC selections.
The LaGrange, Ohio, native graduated from Kentucky with her bachelor’s degree three semesters early, eventually completing her master’s while concluding her stellar career on the diamond. After her senior year – in which she led the team in batting average – Dill was named to the SEC Community Service Team for her work with various groups, as well as being a CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District selection.
Dill was named to the Frank G. Ham Society of Character, which annually honors Kentucky student-athletes who have shown an extraordinary commitment to academic excellence, athletic participation, personal development, career preparation and serving as a role model. She was also a nominee for the NCAA’s Senior CLASS Award, which recognizes student-athletes who utilize their complete athletic eligibility while honoring the four core attributes of the award in community, classroom, character and competition.
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