SB: Fox helps lead Team USA to gold at JWWC
8/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington softball coach Kristie Fox returns as a gold medal winner after helping coach Team USA at the Junior World Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla.
"There is nothing like the feeling of watching your flag being raised to your national anthem," Fox, who served as an assistant coach, said. "It gives you chills. I have been lucky enough to experience that before but to watch the young ladies that went out there and competed so well and broke records in the championship, to watch that and hear them talk about the goose bumps, that is what I went up there for."
Team USA went undefeated through its 10 games in the competition, including an 8-1 win over Japan in the Gold Medal Game. Team USA scored 119 runs in the competition and held a .425 batting average.
"It was a really great experience coaching the best the game has to offer right now with some of the best coaches," Fox said. "We learned some new drills and philosophies from the coaching staff and I felt like I left there a better coach than when I went there. It was a really great experience for me that I am looking forward to bringing back to our players here."
Fox used the opportunity to help grow herself as a coach, learning from a successful group of coaches she worked with. Coaches included NCAA Division I champion Tim Walton from Florida, head coach Tairia Flowers (Cal State Northridge) and Trisha Ford (Fresno State).
"Seeing what (Walton) is doing with his players right now with the different athletes that are coming up in the game right now, I learned some things that I am excited to bring back to our infielders and some drills I am excited to bring back to our hitters," Fox said. "I really kept my eyes open and ears to the ground to see the different things. The young ladies welcomed me with open arms when I was expecting to be there all summer, but only got to spend two weeks with the team because of little Andy. The way they welcomed me right away made it a great experience and that is what USA Softball is all about."
The Fox family has ties to the national team dating back to her play with Team USA in 2006. Fox won gold as a member of the USA Elite team in the College World Games in Taiwan. Her sister Kellie is a two-time All-American at Arizona and is competing with the national team currently. Kellie rounded out play in the World Cup of Softball X with gold and earned silver at the Pan American Games.
