OKLAHOMA CITY , OK - Gary Mullican of Aliso Viejo, Calif., and Scott Standerfer of Charleston, Ill., have been named as assistant coaches for the USA Softball Junior Men's National Team program. These two coaches will join forces with head coach Tim Lyon of South Jordan, Utah, to put the Junior Men's program in a place to win a medal at the ISF Junior Men's World Championship in 2005.
Mullican has been in fast pitch not only as a player but also as an instructor. He has coached at the collegiate and travel ball level and is currently the owner of the Strictly Softball Academy where he serves as an instructor. In 2002 he won an ASA National Championship as a player in the Masters division.
Standerfer led Lafayette Pub of St. Louis to a top five finish at the ASA Men's Major National Championship in 2002. He placed two players on the ASA All-America Team including current Men's National Team member Matt Darling. Professionally he has worked in Law Enforcement for the past 18 years and is currently an Inspector with the Illinois State Police.
The Junior Men's coaching staff will serve through the 2005 ISF Junior Men's World Championships.
"I am excited at the opportunity to build the USA Jr. program back to where it belongs, at the top of the top,” said Lyon . “There is no reason we can't attract top level athletes to be part of the program"
Plans are in the works to hold national clinics for Junior Men across the country in an effort to find the top talent to represent the USA. Lyon will work closely with USA Men's Head Coach Pete Turner and USA National Teams Director Ronnie Isham on a plan to resurrect and strengthen the Junior Men's program.
“It is great that Ronnie and Pete have committed to giving us the resources to develop both the players and pitchers we need to compete with the rest of the world,” said Lyon.
The Junior Men’s World Championship, which is held every four years and is comprised of teams whose players are 19-years-old or younger, represents the highest level of international competition for junior men’s fast pitch softball.
< Back to previous page