RENO, Nev. Matt Meuchel, who helped build the Nevada softball program from the ground up, has been hired as the program’s head coach, Director of Athletics Cary Groth announced Monday.
Meuchel spent four seasons at Nevada, helping build a brand new program in 2003 to a Western Athletic Conference Tournament Championship team in 2006. He served as the program’s recruiting coordinator and finished his tenure as the Associate Head Coach under Michelle Gardner, who took over the program at Indiana in July. He left in 2006 for a job at Oklahoma State.
“This is absolutely the dream job for me,” Meuchel said. “To be able to be on the ground floor of this program back in 2003 and help shape the vision of the program was a great opportunity. To now have the chance to return to the program and take it to the next level on the national scene is more than I could ever ask for. I am thrilled for this opportunity and for the chance to return to Reno and the great softball community here.”
Nevada finished the 2008 season ranked in both national Top 25 polls after finishing with a 44-18 record. The Wolf Pack won the WAC regular season title and reached the championship game of the NCAA Regional in Los Angeles.
“We are excited to bring Matt back to the University of Nevada,” Groth said. “Our softball program is coming off a wonderful season and has received national recognition for its accomplishments. (Executive Associate Athletics Director) Cindy Fox led a national search for this job and I believe we have the right coach to continue the growth of this Top 25 program. Matt has strong ties to Nevada and his familiarity with the program will be a huge asset as we move forward.”
Meuchel comes back to Nevada after two years as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State, where he helped the Cowgirls to the their most Big 12 wins since 2003 and their best record in the past 11 years.
“Matt is one of the hardest-working coaches out there,” said Oklahoma State coach Rich Wieligman. “With the time he puts in, how hard he works and the knowledge that he brings to the table, you couldn’t get a better coach for the job. I knew we’d lose him someday but I was hoping it wouldn’t be this quick. He got us on the right track and he brought in some great recruiting classes for us. He’s going to be sorely missed here. But we couldn’t be happier for Matt because he certainly deserves this opportunity.”
Meuchel began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at Arizona State University where he worked during the 2001 season for head coach Linda Wells and Gardner, who was an assistant coach for the Sun Devils. His first full-time coaching job came during the 2002 season at McNeese State, where he served as the recruiting coordinator and oversaw the coaching of the hitters and the infield.
Gardner hired Meuchel in June of 2002 to help build the program at Nevada, which had just been reinstated and was set to begin play in 2003. As an assistant coach for three season and as the associate head coach for the fourth, Meuchel was part of a program that grew steadily and earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 2006. During his time in Reno, Meuchel was the
team’s recruiting coordinator and also directed the summer camps. He was active in the local softball community and in promoting the Wolf Pack program.
“I could not be happier with Matt getting this job,” former Nevada coach Michelle Gardner said. “He is going to step in and the Wolf Pack program will not miss a beat. The program will only get better under his leadership. He was a great assistant for me and he has a lot invested in that program. He knows the players in the program, and those girls are in great hands with this hire.”
He also worked in 2004 with the Greek Olympic Softball Team during the Summer Games in Athens. He was responsible for advance scouting and also served as the first-base coach during part of the team’s European Tour.
“With the direction the Nevada program is going, Matt is going to pick up that flag and run with it. That is a great, great hire for the Nevada program,” Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. “Matt is a hustling, hard-working coach who has a great eye for talent and is a great recruiter. He is going to be a great head coach.”
Meuchel (pronounced “Michael”) is on the recruiting trail this week and should arrive in Reno later this month. Nevada lost five seniors from last year’s team that made school history with a 44-18 record and the school’s first-ever WAC regular-season title. The Wolf Pack has one signee arriving in the fall in Mallary Darby, a standout pitcher from Spanish Springs High School in Sparks, Nev.
“At this point, our immediate priority is to add some depth to our current roster and to continue to secure the recruiting class for 2009,” Meuchel said.
Meuchel is a 2000 graduate of Arizona State. He is engaged to be married to Joey Hall.
His hiring is subject to approval by the state’s Board of Regents.
