Tuesday, November 29, 2011

SOFTBALL LEGEND SUE ENQUIST JOINS LOUISVILLE SLUGGER® TPS® FAMILY


LOUISVILLE, KY (November 28, 2011) – Louisville Slugger® TPS® is making some serious noise in fastpitch softball. It started with the “mean sounding” XENO bat, as players affectionately describe the loud and unique noise when a XENO crushes the ball.  Now it’s with the major announcement that the sport’s winningest coach has joined the Louisville Slugger family.
Sue Enquist, 11-time National Champion at UCLA and member of multiple Halls of Fame, is joining Louisville Slugger TPSFastpitch Softball as a consultant.  Enquist, who is also a motivational speaker and clinician, will collaborate with the Louisville Slugger TPS research and development staff on innovation, design and testing of bats, gloves, batting gloves, protective equipment and accessories.
            “Sue Enquist is one of the most highly respected people in the game of softball,” said Louisville Slugger president Bill Clark.   “We’ve admired Sue and had a desire to work with her for a long time.  We’re thrilled to have access to the knowledge and experience Sue brings to our Louisville Slugger TPS family.”
Enquist is equally excited to be part of the historic family-owned brand.
“Louisville Slugger is an American icon and has always been a great supporter of women and girls who play softball,” Enquist said, “I am honored to have a role in this great, historic, innovative and forward-thinking company.”
Caroline Howe, a former Division I player who heads up the Louisville Slugger TPS fastpitch program, says it’s been easy to see why Enquist was a successful coach.
“Sue is an amazing motivator.  She’s passionate about our game and pushes for excellence in everything she does,” Howe said. “Our TPS staff and I are eager to continue our new collaboration with Sue as we grow Louisville Slugger TPS fastpitch.”
Among Enquist’s many lifetime achievements, she is the first person in NCAA history to win a national championship as a player and a coach.  She was UCLA’s first All-American as a player where she had a .401 career batting average. 
In her storied 27 years as a coach at UCLA, Enquist had a career record of 887-175-1, for a remarkable .835 winning percentage.  She coached 65 All-Americans and 12 Olympians.  Enquist is a World Champion and a USA National Team coach and player. As a USA National Team coach, she helped prepare the Olympic Team for the inaugural 1996 gold medal run in the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
She is a member of the UCLA Hall of Fame, Women’sSports Foundation International Hall of Fame and National Fastpitch CoachesAssociation Hall of Fame.  She has been named National Coach of the Year and Pac-10 Coach of the Year.
Enquist is also an author, maker of more than 25 leading instructional videos, and former professional surfer.  She lives in California where she continues to surf daily.

 SUE ENQUIST BIOGRAPHY

  • UCLA’S first All-American player, career .401 batting average
  • UCLA softball coach, 27 years (retired)
  • 11-time National Champion player & coach at UCLA
  • First person in NCAA history to win a National Championship as a player and a coach
  • 887-175-1 record (.835 winning percentage), NCAA Division I career record
  • Was winningest coach among active softball coaches during her career
  • Coached 65 All-Americans and 12 Olympians
  • USA National Team:  USA World Champion & Pan-American Champion
  • Member USA National Team Staff for’96 Gold Medal Olympic Team
  • 17 of 21 years in the NCAA Championship Finals
  • UCLA Hall of Fame
  • Women’s Sports Foundation International Hall of Fame
  • National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
  • 1,314 combined wins as a player and a coach
  • Professional surfer

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