A New Softball Coach is in Town

By Thomas Matchell 

The Volunteer State Softball begins its season after filling the head coach position with the hiring of Christian Lynn, the son of former Softball head coach, now Men’s Basketball coach, Johnny Lynn. 

Coach Lynn resigned from his softball coaching position to coach the Vol State Men’s Basketball team after former coach, Rusty Melvin, retired during the season in December 2022. 

Christian Lynn was a Graduate Assistant at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and then served as an Assistant Coach at Vol State for the past several years. 

“I been the head recruiter for the past few years, so I’ve mostly been their main contacts, we haven’t lost any recruits,” said Christian Lynn. 

For second-year players, a new coaching scheme has been made relevant in how they adjust from last season to the current season.  

“It’s a big change, but Christian has done good with listening to us and understanding what we’re trying to come from, and I feel like they play different games; Christian is very speed based…,” said outfielder Katie Davis. 

Compared to last season’s first six games stolen base count (13), coach Christian Lynn’s team has exceeded with just under the doubled amount at 25 stolen bases. 

“We felt like we had a feel of what it would be like this year just more with agility and speed,” said pitcher Madison Croxford. 

The softball team has started below average compared to previous seasons, with a (2-4) record in just their first six games: 

1/31 @ Snead State Community College 10-4 (L), 9-1 (W) 

2/6 VS John A. Logan College 4-3 (L), 9-4 (L) 

2/7 VS Wallace State Community College-Hanceville 11-5 (L), 7-4 (W) 

“There’s big coaching differences between the two… they balance each other out,” said catcher Bailey Ausbrooks. 

The last time Vol State Softball started their first six games .500% or below was in the 2016-2017 season in which they finished with a (32-20) record overall and made it five games into the postseason. 

“I want to continue to recruit hard and get some good players in here that are not only good on the field but good in the classroom… were gonna try playing some tough opponents to get us better,” said Christian Lynn. 

The team will be traveling out to Missouri to take on Three Rivers Community College for a Valentine’s Day showdown on February 14. The doubleheader’s first game will take place at 2:00 p.m. CST and the second game is set for 4:00 p.m. CST.