July 30, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina head softball coach Beverly Smith filled her full-time staff, adding former NC State head coach Lisa Navas as her associate head coach.
“I am so excited about the opportunity to work with Coach Smith and Coach Beamon, and I look forward to coaching alongside them in the best conference in the country,” said Navas. “South Carolina athletics is heading in a good direction with the new facilities and leadership. I cannot wait to get started.”
Navas comes to South Carolina after posting a 296-226 overall record in nine seasons at NC State, where she served as the program’s first head coach. She coached 12 All-ACC players for the Wolfpack, including 2007 third-team NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-American Abbie Sims. She also guided two ACC Rookies of the Year, including 2012 winner Renada Davis. The 2006 ACC Coach of the Year led NC State to two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007 and a 2006 ACC regular season championship.
“I am excited to add Lisa as the newest member of the Gamecock softball coaching staff,” said Smith. “She is a proven coach who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Having competed against Lisa’s teams for years, I was always impressed with their competiveness and passion for the game. She is a successful recruiter with strong ties all over the Southeast. Lisa is also a sought-out clinician and speaker to share her coaching expertise nationally. I believe that this will be a smooth transition and feel fortunate to be able to hire someone of her caliber.”
This summer, Navas has coached the Carolina Diamonds team in National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). The Diamonds hold a 14-17 record with 12 games left in the league’s regular season. Navas has helped Rachel Folden become one of the top hitters in the pro circuit, as she’s tied for the league lead with seven homers, second with 21 RBI and fourth with a .390 batting average.
Navas spent two years at North Carolina, joining Smith as an assistant coach. In that first year of 2001, the Tar Heels claimed both their first NCAA Tournament appearance and first ACC Tournament crown.
After breaking into coaching in 1991 as a part of Jay Miller’s staff at Missouri, Navas spent the next nine years at Barry University in Miami, Fla., compiling a 335-134-1 (.714) record at the NCAA Division II level. The Buccaneers won two Sunshine State Conference titles and finished second in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Six times, Navas led Barry to a regional appearance.
A 1987 graduate of Oklahoma City University in physical education, Navas earned her masters in sport management at Barry in 1999.
