North Texas Names New Softball Coach
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North Texas Director of Athletics Rick Villarreal announced the hiring of Tracey Kee as the fourth Mean Green softball head coach in the current era.
“After conducting a nationwide search and doing our due diligence, we are excited to introduce Tracey Kee as our new head women’s softball coach,” Villarreal said. “To acquire a three time Conference USA Coach of the Year and NCAA participant, who has had several seasons with over 50 wins against top-level competition will help us take a step to the next level. Her team’s accomplishments on the field, in the classroom and in the community are exemplary of the success we want our student athletes to achieve.”
Kee spent 26 seasons at East Carolina as a player, assistant and head coach. Following a standout playing career and successful six-year run as the assistant coach, she was given the reigns to the Pirates prior to the 1997 season and did not look back. She earned Coach of the Year honors four times including three in C-USA.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead the North Texas softball program,” Kee said. “From the
moment I stepped on campus, I knew Rick’s vision of Mean Green athletics was something I wanted to be a part of.” In 16 seasons as the East Carolina head coach, she compiled a 684-362 record, and guided the Pirates to four NCAA Tournament appearances including three in her last five years. “I believe North Texas’ softball program is on the cusp of doing great things,” Kee said. “With continued commitment and hard work, this program will be one of pride, success and tradition.”
She also pulled in nine league championships, with back-to-back C-USA Tournament titles in 2010 and 2011. From 2009 to 2011, no Conference USA program won more games than East Carolina’s 125.
“I would like to thank Rick, Paul and the entire search committee for opening the doors to their Mean Green family,” Kee concluded. “To see everything this department has accomplished in the past decade, from facilities to victories, is quite an inspiration. The passion, dedication, and the stability this staff has shown and continues to show, is something I admire.”
Kee played her high school ball at Saint Gertrude in Richmond, Va., from 1983-86 before a stellar career for East Carolina from 1987-1990. In January of 2009, she was inducted into the St. Gertrude Athletic Hall of Fame.
She graduated from ECU in May of 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and, in 1995, earned her master’s degree from ECU in exercise and sport science with a concentration in physical education.
