PANAMA CITY — Gulf Coast found another Seminole to lead its softball program.
Beth Wade was named the school’s second head coach on Friday, with the former Florida State standout inheriting a program that hit a rough spell in 2013. Former coach Susan Painter also played softball at FSU of the slow pitch variety and departed in May after her contract wasn’t renewed by the GCSC Board of Trustees. Wade has accepted the position, effective on Wednesday pending board approval.
Wade spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Troy University, where she was the hitting coach and aided in recruiting. The Colquitt, Ga., native also was an assistant at Florida schools Lynn University and Tallahassee Community College for one season at each stop. She also assisted at Appalachian State from 2009-2011.
At FSU, Wade played first base and was among the team’s top power hitters from 2000-2004. She led the Seminoles in doubles (12) and was tied in home runs (eight) and fourth in RBIs (34) as a senior, as FSU finished 62-19. FSU won three Atlantic Coast Conference titles and made two Women’s College World Series appearances in her tenure.
Wade was unavailable for comment on Friday and will likely be formally introduced next week. A GC press release made no mention of possible assistants under Wade.
GC finished fourth in the Panhandle Conference last season and was ousted in the state tournament after four games. The Lady Commodores were 28-33 and posted their first losing season in program history. Painter led GC for 20 seasons and amassed 895 wins, six conference titles, three state crowns and finished runner-up at the national tournament on three occasions.