Two more former Cats get coaching gigs

by:Stuart Hammer08/21/13

StuartHammerKSR

NCAA Softball 09_10UK Softball vs. GeorgiaGame 1GA wins 4-2 Fresh off the great news of former Wildcat great Walter McCarty landing a new job with the Boston Celtics, two more former Wildcats have found coaching destinations for next season. Granted, it is not quite as high profile as the NBA, but anything to keep the Big Blue Nation entrenched in the coaching world is a good thing. Former softball stars Brittany Cervantes and Chanda Bell — not-so arguably the greatest hitter and pitcher respectively, in program history — two players who put UK softball on the map, have been hired as assistant coaches at the Division-I ranks. Both Cervantes and Bell had spent last season on the UK coaching staff; Cervantes as a volunteer assistant helping to train the offense, and Bell as a student assistant, having a significant impact on the young pitching squad. Certanvtes has been hired at Loyola Chicago as an assistant coach where she will surely focus on hitting. She has spent the last two summers playing in the National Pro Fastpitch league for the Chicago Bandits where she is batting .255 with six homers and 17 RBI through 31 games this season. As a Wildcat, Cervantes ranks first all-time in RBI, home runs, fourth in doubles, second in walks, and second in slugging percentage. Playing catcher and third base, she was named to the SEC All-Defensive team in 2012. Chanda Bell will begin her coaching career at Marshall, where she was hired to manage the bullpen. Bell is the greatest pitcher to ever wear the Wildcats uniform, as her name is up and down the school record book for pitching; owning the top mark for opponent batting average, strikeouts, wins, and saves. She is second all-time in innings pitched, games started, and ERA. Congratulations to these former Wildcats. If you follow college softball closely, keep an eye out for these gals. They are going to do big things on the circuit.

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