TYLER, TEXAS – #1 UT Tyler softball is just one week away from beginning their season at the DII First Pitch Invitational in Conroe, Texas.
 
LAST SEASON
 
Last year the Patriots completed a feat not done since the 1997-1998 season in Division II softball, and that is win back-to-back NCAA National Championships. They finished the year 62-5 overall and 40-4 in LSC play. They earned a share of their fifth straight LSC title, and won their fourth consecutive NCAA South Central Region title. The Patriots capped that effort off with a 10-1 record in the NCAA Tournament, including a perfect 5-0 run at the World Series to claim the top spot for the second straight year.
 
NEW FACE
 
Mike Reed has officially transitioned into a full-time administrative role within the UT Tyler athletic department, ending his reign as the most successful softball coach in NCAA history in terms of winning percentage at 84% and as the only coach in UT Tyler program history.
 
In his place will be interim head coach Jason Miller. Miller joined the program in the summer of 2025 after an eight year stint at Grayson College and a one year run at Oklahoma Baptist. He helped guide the Bison to their first ever appearance in the GAC Championship game this past season after going 36-17 overall. At Grayson College, Miller spurred the Vikings to a 104-24 record in his last four seasons and two appearances at the NJCAA World Series.
 
"My goals really are not any different than what they have been here in the past," Miller said. "The UT Tyler way that Coach Reed has developed here has proven to work. We are focused on each day to attack what that day has in store and do it the UT Tyler way. We want to put that type of effort and attention into what we do and make everybody that has come before us proud."
 
RETURNERS AND NEWCOMERS
 
The Patriots will have four players with World Series experience return to the fold, including Taryn Barney, Sam Garcia, Berlyn Grossman, and Keona Wells. Barney leads that group, earning NFCA and D2CCA All-Region honors while also being named to the World Series All-Championship Team.
 
Coach Miller on how the team is leaning on that quartet to set the standard: "Well, that's a process that we got to see start this fall. Our returners did an incredible job helping all the newcomers learn the processes and standards of this program. To the newcomers' credit, they showed tremendous respect to how this program is run by giving effort and care to learning the details daily.  As we enter the spring season, I expect to see nothing less from them and for our returners to continue to give us great guidance and leadership."
 
On the newcomer side, the Patriots will have plenty of new faces. They have brought in transfers from the Division I ranks, as well as the top ranks of Division II and NJCAA, along with several incoming freshman that will make an immediate impact.
 
"Our newcomers are going to play a big role filling the spots of seniors from last year.," Miller said. "We have such a good mix of groups in those newcomers. We have a group of transfers from within the conference that bring LSC experience and knowledge to us, a group of D1 transfers, a transfer with high level national D2 experience, and a group of newcomers that were highly successful junior college transfers that bring an expectation of success. Add those groups to a talented group of freshmen, it has created great competition and a host of many new names that will be impactful this spring."
 
STARTING THE YEAR
 
UT Tyler will play 12 games in just 11 days to kick off their season. Six of those come at the DII First Pitch Invitational from January 30^th to February 1^st, and six more come at the UT Tyler Classic from February 6^th to February 9^th. The Patriots face off with eight different teams in that stretch before heading into conference play.
 
"As stout as this conference is, I think you have to get as many games as you can in before the conference season starts," Miller said. Playing that many in the first two weeks is going to force us to have some resolve and better prepare for what we need to work on heading into conference play."
 
ON THE ROAD
 
UT Tyler plays in one of the toughest conferences in Division II, and each year it comes down to how well you handle games on the road. The Patriots are 37-7 in road games over the last two seasons and will look to continue that strong stretch. They will face both #13 Angelo State and #8 West Texas A&M on the road this season.
 
Coach Miller on the keys to success on the road: I think it goes back to how we have to continue to focus on today. One thing I know that has set this program up to have that type of success is how well Coach Reed and Coach Wyly have prepared teams in the past. For us to have success, regardless of opponent or location, we have to use each day well for the team to be prepared to handle any moment of the season."
 
BIG ATTENTION
 
UT Tyler begins the year as the unanimous number one team in the NFCA/GoRout Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll after garnering all 16 first place votes and 400 total points in the poll.
 
The Patriots were also selected number one in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, earning 39 of a possible 51 first place votes and 849 total points.
 
The season begins on Friday, January 30^th in Conroe, Texas as they take on Saint Martin's and Simon Fraser. The matchup with the Saints will be at 1:30 p.m. and the matchup with the Red Leafs will be at 4 p.m.