By Stephanie Blackner
Some new blood was brought into the women''s athletics department July 9.
Women''s athletics director Elaine Michaelis announced the new head softball and head women''s volleyball coaches.
Karen Lamb, the new head volleyball coach, steps up from her role as BYU''s assistant coach the past eight seasons.
'I know the program well,' Lamb said. 'I know things that need to be done. I already have good relationships with the players.'
The BYU women''s volleyball team has had success with current Director of Women''s Intercollegiate Athletics and former head volleyball coach, Elaine Michaelis.
The team has been to 12-straight NCAA tournaments and has not had a losing season for over 40 years.
'I come into a program that has tradition and success,' Lamb said. 'I think that will make the difference. I am very confident that I''ll enjoy this more than other jobs in the past.'
Lamb played volleyball under Michaelis as an All-American from 1974 to 1977.
As a coach she led Washington State to their first winning season in 10 years in 1988 with a record of 22-17.
'Karen has made a tremendous impact on women''s volleyball,' Michaelis said in a news release. 'She is an intense competitor and a winner, as evidenced by her coaching credentials.'
Lamb was the assistant coach for the Bronze Medal U.S.A. Women''s National Team in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.
She was named National Junior College Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1983 for leading Central Arizona College to the NJCAA title.
'I want to win,' said Lamb, who is only the third coach in BYU women''s volleyball history. 'Not winning is unacceptable. I will do everything I can to make that happen.'
She begins practices August 9th with only two returning starters: junior setter Karina Puikkonen and junior defensive specialist Uila Crabbe.
'The success will be determined by how hard the players worked and trained over the summer,' Lamb said. 'It is only a matter of time and continued training and we will win.'
At the same time Lamb''s name was released, Gordon Eakin was announced as the new head softball coach.
'He is an excellent recruiter, teacher, organizer, communicator and student of the game,' Michaelis said. 'It was obvious that he is well respected in collegiate and international softball circles.'
The two-time member of the International Softball Congress All-World Team has been playing softball since finishing his third minor league season in Oakland.
Larry H. Miller recruited him to play softball for the Larry H. Miller Toyota Fast Pitch Softball Team and he has never looked back.
'I have a great knowledge of the game,' Eakin said. 'I have great relationships around the country with the softball community. I just want to step in and continue in the direction the program is headed.'
The softball team had a breakthrough season in 2001. In only its second year of competition in the NCAA, the team won both the Mountain West Conference and Mountain West Tournament. It also made its first appearance in the NCAA tournament.
The softball team has been without a head coach since Mary Kay Amicone stepped down June 11.
She resigned due to a conflict with the administration over coaching philosophies.
'I am glad that they chose coach Eakin,' said Katy Barnes, sophomore pitcher and first baseman. 'He is really positive and is always looking out for us. He makes sure we are doing it right.'
Eakin has high expectations both for his players and the team.
'I have a good core group of kids on and off the field, it''s not all about softball,' Eakin said.
Besides the announcement of the two new coaches, six BYU softball players were announced to the 2002 Mountain West Conference Softball Academic All-Conference Team July 9. Along with Barnes, Jessica Johnson, Megan Johnson, Kate Walker, Kari Pringle and Jill Roberts were also honored.