Richie Bruister is in his fifth season as the head softball coach at Texas Woman’s University. In four years Bruister has guided the Pioneers to a 132-83 overall record, three straight Lone Star Conference Tournament appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and two trips to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament (2010 and 2012).
Under Bruister’s direction 25 TWU softball players received All-Lone Star Conference honors, seven earned All-South Central Region honors and three received All-America recognition. In 2010, Carly Case was named Conference South Division Pitcher of the Year and in 2011, Bailey Vrazel was selected South Central Region Player of the Year and Lone Star Conference South Division Player and Freshman of the Year. Vrazel was also named the 2012 LSC Academic Player of the Year, LSC Fred Jacoby Female Academic Athlete of the Year and TWU President's Award winner. Bruister was also named the 2010 and 2012 Greater Denton Sports Commission Coach of the Year.
The 2011 squad also placed an impressive third in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Academic Top Ten Teams with an all-time team-best GPA of 3.502. It’s the highest ranking for TWU since the 1997 season when they recorded a 3.305. TWU was ranked first among all LSC softball teams.
Bruister comes to TWU on the heels of an extremely successful five-year run as the head softball coach at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas from 2004-08. The Lady Reddies compiled a phenomenal 163-93 record with Bruister in the dugout after posting a 46-143 mark in the five seasons prior to his arrival. Bruister won more than 30 games in three of his five years at HSU, including the 2008 campaign when the Lady Reddies went 39-18 to tie the school record for most wins in a season.
Bruister’s coaching abilities at HSU helped produce 12 All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) first team performers, eight All-GSC second team members, two All-South Central Region first team selections, and two All-South Central Region second team players. Bruister also has his own Gulf South Conference hardware, as he took home the GSC Softball Coach of the Year trophy in 2004 after guiding the Lady Reddies to a sterling 34-13 record in his first season as a collegiate head coach.
Bruister also elevated the academic performance of his players while in Arkadelphia. Eight Lady Reddies were honored as National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans and 20 HSU players were named to the GSC honor roll under his watch.
Before his tenure at HSU, Bruister worked for three seasons (2001-03) as the Assistant Softball Coach at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi. He got his start in coaching with student assistant coaching stints at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi, and Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.
Bruister received his Associate’s Degree from Hinds in 1997 and then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in 1999 and his Master of Science degree in 2000 from Mississippi State.
Bruister and his wife Kim live in Denton. The couple has three children Cole, Anna Claire and Logan.
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THE BRUISTER FILE |
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Coaching Experience |
- Texas Woman’s University, Head Coach, 2008-present
- Henderson State University, Head Coach, 2004-08
- Jones County Junior College, Assistant Coach, 2001-03
- Mississippi State University, Student Assistant, 1998-00
- Hinds Community College, Student Assistant, 1997 |
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Record at Henderson State |
|
Year |
Overall Record |
GSC Record |
GSC Finish |
|
2004 |
34-13 |
15-9 |
3rd in West |
|
2005 |
24-28 |
14-14 |
2nd in West |
|
2006 |
39-19 |
20-14 |
3rd in West |
|
2007 |
27-15 |
16-11 |
3rd in West |
|
2008 |
39-18 |
19-10 |
2nd in West |
|
Total |
163-93 |
84-58 |
|
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Record at TWU |
|
Year |
Overall Record |
LSC Record |
LSC Finish |
|
2009 |
26-25 |
6-12 |
6th in South |
|
2010 |
39-22 |
11-7 |
3rd in South |
|
2011 |
30-26 |
11-10 |
4th in South |
|
2012 |
37-17 |
18-8 |
2nd |
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Total |
132-83 |
46-37 |
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Awards |
- 2004 Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year
- 2009-10 Greater Denton Sports Commission Coach of the Year
- 2011-12 Greater Denton Sports Commission Coach of the Year |
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Education |
- Master of Science, Mississippi State, 2000
- Bachelor of Science, Mississippi State, 1999
- Associate’s Degree, Hinds, 1997 |
