Texas A&M-Texarkana Names Softball Coach

Texas A&M University-Texarkana announced today the addition of Marie Stone as head coach of the new Eagles softball team.

A&M-Texarkana Athletics Director Michael Galvan said the university is thrilled to have Coach Stone joining the Eagles coaching staff.

"Marie has been a head softball coach, has started a softball program, and has recruiting ties throughout Texas and the region,” Galvan said. “I believe she will be a trailblazer for our new softball program.”

Dr. Emily Cutrer, president of A&M-Texarkana, said students, faculty, staff and the community are excited about the addition of softball to the Eagles intercollegiate athletics lineup.

“We are delighted to have someone with Coach Stone’s experience join the A&M-Texarkana community,” Dr. Cutrer said. “We hope the entire region will join us for what promises to be an exciting season of fastpitch softball and another exciting year of sports at the university.”

Coach Stone said she is excited to get in on the ground floor of the growing athletic program at A&M-Texarkana.

“I want to thank President Cutrer and AD Galvan for the opportunity to be the first softball coach at A&M-Texarkana. It’s very exciting to be able to build a softball program from the ground up,” Coach Stone said. “One of my goals this year is to get to know the academic community and to recruit a class of student-athletes who are successful on the field and in the classroom.”

Coach Stone comes to A&M-Texarkana from Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, where she spent four years as the head coach of the Lady Aggies softball program.

Last season, the Lady Aggies set single-season team records for total runs scored, home runs, stolen bases, hits, and highest batting average.

Under the leadership of Coach Stone, the Lady Aggies won Regionals in each of the last three seasons. During the 2015 season, the team received numerous honors and was ranked 17th nationally by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) for team grade-point average.

Prior to joining the Murray State coaching staff, Coach Stone spent three years at Western Oregon University (NCAA, Division II). In addition to her responsibilities as recruiting coordinator and assistant softball coach, she spent five months as interim head coach.

In 2010, Coach Stone started the softball program at Our Lady of the Lake University, a member of the Red River Athletics Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Coach Stone was honored by her peers as the Red River Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Coach Stone also previously served as an assistant coach at Reinhardt University (NAIA) in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hill College (NJCAA) in Hillsboro, Texas.

Coach Stone played at Texas Wesleyan University from 2004-2006, where she earned First Team All-Region honors in 2006, Red River Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2006 and Red River Conference First Team All-Conference in 2005.

Coach Stone said she looks forward to recruiting students from the Texarkana area, as well as the four-state region and beyond.

“I plan to get the ball rolling on recruitment quickly and to identify a group of quality student-athletes who will be ready to help build a solid and successful program.”

The Eagles softball team will have its first game in spring 2018 at Bramlett Field at Spring Lake Park in Texarkana, Texas. When announced, the schedule will be available at their website.