A new coach with a familiar face will lead the BYU–Hawaii women's softball team into the 2009-2010 season. Scott Lowe (pictured top) will add to his duties as both the Assistant Athletic Director and the Sports Information Director at BYU–Hawaii and take the reins of the softball team for the upcoming season. Lowe was named to the position after Jackson Mapu, BYU–Hawaii softball coach for the past ten years, retired earlier this summer.
Third year player Brooke Perriton, junior in business management from Kaneohe, said although she would miss Mapu, she is excited for what Lowe brings to the team. "[Mapu] is a really good guy. He's a big, lovable man and we are all going to miss him on the field," said Perriton. She added, "with the few meetings I've had with [Lowe], I think he brings a fresh outlook to our team. He seems to have a lot of softball knowledge from both playing and watching."
Lowe has experience playing at the Major League level of fast-pitch softball, as well as in the military, where he was named an All-Navy shortstop during his playing years.
Lowe's coaching experience is also extensive and successful. "I’ve never been associated with a losing team," said Lowe. "I think that a great part of winning in softball is the attitude of the team in believing they can win."
Returning to the game after years of being a spectator has Lowe excited. "I am really looking forward to the challenge of building a winning tradition in softball at BYU–Hawaii," he said. "I feel we have a good nucleus of players returning this coming season and can’t wait to get on the field with them."
Due to his other positions within the Athletic Department, Lowe said he is not only familiar with the Seasider softball team, but also other teams within the league and perhaps most importantly, the mission of BYU–Hawaii.
"I understand what the goals of BYU–Hawaii are, both as an institution and as an athletics program," said Lowe. "BYU–Hawaii is more than putting a team on the field and trying to win games…it's about representing the Lord."
"I think that we can establish a strong softball tradition particularly with LDS girls because there are a number who want to play at a church school," added Lowe.
--Photo courtesy of BYU–Hawaii Athletics