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It’s been a busy weekend for Texas Longhorn Head Coach Mike White as he picked up a transfer player on Friday and then announced a new coaching hire Monday morning.
Here are the official Univ. of Texas releases on each…
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Joley Mitchell from Notre Dame Will Have Two Years of Eligibility Left
AUSTIN, TX – Joley Mitchell has signed an Athletic Scholarship Agreement (ASA) to play softball next season at The University of Texas, head coach Mike White announced Wednesday afternoon. Mitchell arrives on the Forty Acres following a four-year stint at The University of Notre Dame (2020-23) and will have two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
“Joley will be a difference maker for us over the next two years,” said White, who is coming off his 13th consecutive NCAA Super Regional appearance following the 2023 season. “She will be a consistent power threat who will hit for average and have the speed to steal bases as well. More importantly, though, she will add leadership to our program with her work ethic, desire to be the best and overall grit to get the job done.”
Despite not seeing game action throughout the 2021 softball season, Mitchell, who is a two-time NFCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region selection, concluded a three-year playing career with the Fighting Irish having slashed .344/.420/.595 in 299 official plate appearances throughout 116 career games played. She’s totaled 178 total bases on 103 career hits and 41 walks to go along with 27 stolen bases and 73 runs scores. Mitchell has connected for 17 home runs and 22 doubles while driving in 69 runs.
Throughout her Notre Dame career, Mitchell, who split time between third base and designated player, has steadily increased her offensive productivity. She boosted a .234 batting average — in 47 plate appearances as a freshman during the 2020-shortened season — to a .340 mark in 103 at bats in 2022. Last season, Mitchell, who was selected to the All-ACC First Team, was credited with 57 hits in 149 official at bats for a .383 batting average.
Mitchell ended the 2023 season on a 15-game hitting streak and a 35-game on-base streak while finishing with 14 multiple hit games and 10 multiple runs batted in (RBI) contests. She was also named the ACC Player of the Week for March 14.
Mitchell, who prepped at Rose Bud (Ark.) High School, concluded her prep career with a .622 batting average, 58 home runs, 281 runs scored and 197 RBI. She was named the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Arkansas following a senior season that saw her hit .717 with 85 runs, 55 RBI, 34 stolen bases, 38 extra base hits and 13 home runs.
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Pattie Ruth Taylor Joins Texas After Stings at Lehigh & UConn
AUSTIN, TX – The University of Texas softball head coach Mike White announced on Monday morning the addition of Pattie Ruth Taylor to the Longhorn coaching staff as the program’s third assistant coach.
“I am excited to announce the addition of Coach Taylor to our staff,” White said. “Coach Taylor brings experience as both a pitcher and coach to our program. Her personality and competitive drive blends well with our staff and team.”
“I would like to thank Coach White for giving me this incredible opportunity to join the Longhorn family,” Taylor said. “I am beyond excited to learn and work with him, Coach (Steve) Singleton and Coach (Kristen) Zaleski. The championship culture is evident through this program, and I am eager to bring my experience and values to work with these amazing student-athletes.”
Following a two-season stint as the volunteer assistant coach at UConn (2020-21), Taylor spent two seasons (2022-23) as an assistant coach that oversaw the pitching staff of the Lehigh University softball program.
In her first season at Lehigh, Taylor guided a pitching staff that helped Lehigh win its 15th Patriot League tournament championship and first since 2017. Gabriella Nori, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player, allowed just one run over her last 20 innings pitched heading into the NCAA Seattle Regional. In 2023, the Lehigh pitching staff posted a 2.73 earned run average (ERA) as the program won 40 games, including a 7-4 win over then-No. 7/9 Alabama as well as winning 16 of 18 Patriot League contests.
During her time with the UConn student-athletes, Taylor coached an AAC Player, two BIG EAST Pitcher and one BIG EAST Freshman of the Week selections. The pitching staff posted a 2.01 ERA, .208 opponent batting average, six shutouts, a no-hitter and a combined no-hitter during the 2020 campaign. The following year, the Huskies struck out 247 batters while posting a 3.24 ERA and a .241 opponent batting average.
A native of Russellville, Tenn., Taylor was a four-year letterwinner (2015-18) at Middle Tennessee State, where she was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Scholar Athlete, two-time C-USA Honor Roll honoree and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a masters in leisure and sport management from MTSU.
Texas, which finished with a 45-15-1 record last season, is coming off a NCAA Super Regional appearance after the Longhorns knocked off Seton Hall and Texas A&M to win the NCAA Austin Regional. The program also played for a conference championship after appearing in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Championship game.