Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Florida is set to hire Memphis head coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro as its new pitching coach sources confirmed to Softball America.

CHECK OUT: SOFTBALL AMERICA ASSISTANT COACHING CAROUSEL

VanBrakle Prothro will replace Chelsey Dobbins, who is stepping away after one year in Gainesville. VanBrakle Prothro spent the previous two seasons as the head coach in Memphis. She previously held the role as pitching coach at Alabama, her alma mater.

In her 11 seasons, Prothro and Alabama made 10 NCAA Regional appearances, nine NCAA Super Regionals and six Women’s College World Series appearances including the national championship in 2012.

VanBrakle Prothro will work primarily with SEC Freshman of the Year Keagan Rothrock, Ava Brown, UNC Wilmington transfer Kara Hammock and incoming freshman Katelynn Oxley.

 

prothro? husband the former bama wr who broke his leg against uf in 2005?

 

According to her Bio she is married to Quinton Prothro with 1 daughter and 1 stepdaughter. Not the unbelievable receiver Prothro that shattered his leg against us. He still has the greatest catch that I have ever seen!

 

The press release mentions Keagan Rothrock, Ava Brown, UNC Wilmington transfer Kara Hammock and incoming freshman Katelynn Oxley, but not Liv Miller. Are we to read anything into that?

 

And Mike Shula ruined his career trying to run the score up against UF. He should have never been in the game at that point to suffer that horrific injury. Karma caught up to Shula shortly thereafter

 

Huh??? There was nothing in my comment that was intended as anything attacking or negative about Dobbins. I have no clue why this change is being made. Perhaps she really does want to spend more time with her family. Perhaps there are health issues. Could be other reasons. I have no idea. My comment was solely directed to the suggestion, considering her knowledge of the position with many years of experience as a pitching coach, and with the opportunity to work with possibly the most promising staff in her career, that "the grind" was a reason for the change. That seems very unlikely to me and my comment meant nothing else.

 

Unless Coffel is forced to room with Mia so she can absorb through osmosis her plate presence, I would prefer a great former pitcher as volunteer. I would think seeing someone throw the pitch instead of talk the pitch would be much better, not to mention the batting practice that would give our hitters.

 

What press release? I haven't seen one

 

D1 softball news story. My misstatement as a press release.

 

Seems almost mandatory for sports writers to be awful at their jobs nowadays. Hopefully just an error on their part.

 

If someone else said it, he’d probably have a different reaction.

 

I cannot find it, but if you saw her end of season IG post, there would have to have been a major event to think she will not stay.

 

The article is on the SA website. I just think the the writer inadvertently left Liv off his list. I don't think he is familiar enough with the our team. He wrote the article to meet a deadline. Liv loves the Gators and her teammates. Besides, she has unfinished business in the Gator circle.

 

I guess it was touch and go but Korbe decided not to hit the portal....or perhaps not that close:

 

And for what it is worth, a good friend of Sandman, Scrappy, 1990 and myself got Korbe a summer intern position at Shands in the Thoracic portion of the hospital. I wonder how many other softball schools have great fans like ours that do there best to help out the true student athlete? My guess is darn few if any. Our fans love the sport AND want the ladies to be super successful in the future!

 

Exactly my thoughts!

 

https://floridagators.com/news/2024/6/18/softball-otis-tabbed-csc-academic-all-american.aspx
Korbe is an outstanding softball talent, an incredible student with an impeccable character and is a strong role model to teammates and young ladies.

 

Pitching coach announcement.

Walton Announces VanBrakle Prothro as Newest Assistant Coach - Florida Gators

 

From what I’ve read, there’s a lot of potential here with Coach Stephanie. I certainly hope she can help Liv where Chelsey left off. I am looking for great things from Liv next season.

 

This a good read on Katelynn “Red” Oxley, our new freshman pitcher:

Bartow softball pitcher Red Oxley ready to move to the Florida Gators