News Articles
Apr 23, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILEY UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF SOFTBALL, APPOINTS BIGGS INTERIM HEAD COACH
MARSHALL, TEXAS - Wiley University announces the expansion of the Department of Athletics with the return of softball next spring, and the appointment of Mr. Kendrick Biggs as Interim Head coach.
Currently serving as the head baseball coach, Coach Biggs will restart softball at Wiley University as a 2024-25 club sport and become a varsity sport for the 2025-26 academic year - after which the team will compete in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference, currently known as the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Wiley previously offered softball from the 1980s until the early 2000s. In 1981, Wiley University’s softball team won the Interregional Athletic Conference title and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District VII title and clinched a berth in the first NAIA World Series.
"I think the return of softball is an exciting opportunity for the University and potential players," Biggs said, who is in his 11th year on the Wiley University coaching staff. "I'm looking forward to recruiting students from Texas, Louisiana, the Nation, and the world for our women’s softball team, especially from Texas. The first year gives us an opportunity to build a really strong team, and help students chase their dreams of playing a collegiate sport.”
Wiley University Director of Athletics Rafael Gonzalez is ecstatic about the latest addition to the Department of Athletics.
“We are on a roll with this latest athletic addition. Wiley University continues to invite students who want to continue their sports careers while completing their higher education degree. Coach Biggs transformed the baseball program, which contended for the GCAC title last season, and led the conference all season this year. Most of all, he is willing to do whatever is necessary for our department to succeed.”
Softball is scheduled to become the 13th varsity sport and the seventh women’s sport at Wiley University. In 2022, the institution brought back men's and women's soccer, and will begin competing in indoor track and field for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For more information about Wiley University visit www.wileyc.edu, or contact Assistant Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing Marlee Archer at communications@wileyc.edu.
For more information about Wiley University Athletics visit www.wileyathletics.com, or contact Sports Information Director Andrew Glover at adglover@wileyc.edu.
About Wiley University
Wiley University, founded in 1873 and formerly known as Wiley College, is a premier liberal institution, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, with an intentional focus on social good and leadership.
