Western New Mexico University's Head Softball Coach, Ashley Hickman has announced the promotion of Ally Raines to the team's Assistant Coach. Raines was the team's graduate assistant for the 2021-22 season.
"Ally's coaching ability goes further than the field and our players have already counted on her as a coach and mentor," said Head Coach Ashley Hickman.
Raines came to Silver City in the summer of 2021, to serve as a Graduate Assistant for the program. She took full reign of the Mustang offense, having one of the best offenses since 2018. In the 2022 season, under Raines's instruction had 167 runs, 299 hits, 34 doubles, 25 home runs, 153 RBI, and 88 walks.
"Ally has demonstrated a desire to make the whole student athlete a priority," said Hickman. "She has been a huge addition in helping create an academic plan for each individual, which has helped us have above a 3.5 GPA for the whole year."
"My passion in developing student-athletes is not just driven off of the athletic aspect but the mental and educational aspect as well, '' said Raines. "Advocating for them to be the best competitors that they can be in any aspect of life"
Before WNMU, Raines coached one year (2020-21) at Mississippi Gulf Coast as the Assistant Softball Coach. At MGCCC her expertise was centered around the hitters and outfielders.
In the spring of 2020, she began her collegiate coaching career as the Assistant Softball Coach at Hutchinson Community College. The Blue Dragons were 18-6 before their season was cut short due to COVID-19.
Raines was an outfielder and first baseman at Hutchinson in 2014-16, where she earned First Team All-Region 6 District E Outfielder, NJCAA Player of the Week, All-Conference Second Team Outfielder, and was the Jayhawk Conference Runner-up all in the 2016 season. She hit .344 with 11 doubles, seven home runs, 47 RBI and 34 runs that season, as the Blue Dragons went 38-8. Raines set a Hutchinson single-game RBI record with six against Neosho County.
In the 2017 and 2018 seasons, she played third base and outfield at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. The Eagles played in the 2018 National Tournament and finished the KCAC in second place. At OKWU, she obtained a bachelor's degree in sports and recreational management.
"We are excited that she will continue with our program in a greater capacity. This is a win for Mustang softball," said Hickman.
Raines will continue working on her Masters degree of Interdisciplinary Studies in Educational Leadership and Business Administration. Aside from coaching softball, Raines enjoys photography and traveling.
"I am so excited to continue to be a part of this program and its growth," said Raines. "Western New Mexico University is a place that is expanding in so many ways and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be just a small piece in that!"
