COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland softball head coach Julie Wright announced the addition of Lisa Carey and Lisa Norris as assistant coaches Thursday.
“I am thrilled to add Lisa Norris and Lisa Carey to our Terrapin family,” Wright said. “Both were high-level players with incredible experiences that have helped them in their coaching careers. Lisa Norris will be able to tap into her time in the professional league to help our pitchers understand how to set-up hitters and finish at-bats. Her pitching philosophy will have an immediate and positive impact on our staff. I have been watching Lisa Carey throughout her career and knew she was a perfect fit to take over our hitters. She will have a huge influence not only on the fundamentals, but with approach and having a plan at the plate.
“Both are exceptional thinkers within the game and are highly competitive,” Wright added. “They are passionate and professional and their energy and excitement will have a wonderful effect on our student-athletes. The three of us fit really well together and will make an excellent team.”
Norris most recently served as an assistant coach for the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns softball program from 2014-15. Before coaching in Lafayette, she spent three years as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, North Carolina State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
“I'm very excited to be a part of the Maryland family,” Norris said. “It's a great time to be in College Park and moving into the future with the Big Ten. Coach Wright has a lot of passion and energy for the program, and we're ready to get it going.”
While at Louisiana-Lafayette, Norris assisted with pitching and coached standout Christina Hamilton to a 29-4 record as the team moved to the Women's College World Series. Hamilton earned NFCA Second Team All-American and Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year honors under Norris' tutelage.
Since 2009, Norris has played for the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch League, where she was named NPF Pitcher of the Year in 2010 and All-NPF in 2009 and 2010.
Norris played four seasons at North Carolina, where she earned NFCA All-Southeast Region honors and was named First Team All-ACC in 2008 and 2009. She graduated from UNC with a degree in interpersonal communications and a minor in coaching in 2010.
Carey served as the head coach of Washburn University's softball program for nine seasons from 2002-11. She became the Lady Blues' all-time victories leader after posting 256 wins. Under Carey's tutelage, 55 student-athletes were named all-MIAA, seven earned all-regional team honors and 57 were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. She also coached the 2007 MIAA Freshman of the Year and the 2009 Most Valuable Player. In 2009, Carey was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
“I'm very excited to be at the Division I level and coach at the University of Maryland,” Carey said. “Coach Wright has a vision for this program and has set a high standard. I'm looking forward to assisting in that vision along with a great staff and excellent student-athletes.”
Most recently, Carey held coaching positions at Oklahoma and Comanche High School.
A 2001 graduate of Oklahoma, Carey was a three-time All-American and four-year starter at shortstop for the Sooners. She led the program to the 2000 NCAA Championship with a two-run homer in the championship game, and also helped Oklahoma to three Big 12 Championships. Carey graduated with a degree in health and sport sciences.
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