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Yesterday, Extra Inning Softball produced a story on Lipscomb’s players going to Mexico to help on a mission trip and, Thursday morning, there was also news impacting the Bisons’ program in the coaching department.
Laura Dukes, the former Assistant Coach for the ASUN Conference school, announced she has left Lipscomb to take a position at the Univ. of Tennessee to be the Director of Operations starting on Monday.
Here is the full release issued by Tennessee announcing the new hire…
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Tennessee softball head coach Karen Weekly has appointed Laura Dukes as the program’s Director of Operations. Dukes will begin her role with the Lady Vols on August 14.
Dukes comes to Rocky Top with a wealth of experience, having served as an assistant coach and director of operations since 2020 at Lipscomb University in Nashville. A softball lifer, she had previous coaching stops at Belmont, Shepherd University and Austin Peay.
“We are thrilled to welcome Laura Dukes to the Lady Vol softball program as our Director of Operations,” Weekly said.
“Through her various assistant coaching stops, Laura has gained valuable experience in the administrative and logistical aspects of running a Division I softball program. I am impressed with her organizational skills, attention to detail and overall commitment to excellence in all that she does. I have no doubt Laura will make our program better.”
A 2014 graduate from Middle Tennessee State, Dukes played softball for the Blue Raiders and was named Conference USA First-Team All-Conference in 2014. She graduated from MTSU in three years with her bachelor’s degree in organizational communication.
Dukes went on to Lipscomb for grad school and played for the Bison in 2015, earning NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors along with Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team recognition. She graduated from Lipscomb in 2016 with a Master’s in conflict management.
“I am so excited to be joining the Lady Vol softball family,” Dukes said.
“I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to learn from the softball staff and help create the best possible experience for our student-athletes. I would like to thank Danny White, Tara Brooks, Karen Weekly and the softball staff for the opportunity to represent the University of Tennessee.”
— Brentt Eads/Extra Inning Softball