EUGENE – University of Oregon softball head coach Mike White was pleased to announce Tuesday his first additions to the coaching staff for the 2010 season.

Two nationally-respected coaches and former All-America players from the Pacific-10 Conference – Jessica Allister and Lisa Dodd – will join the Ducks after serving as assistant coaches for 2009 NCAA tournament qualifiers Stanford and Nevada.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the addition of Jessica and Lisa,” White said. “They are high-profile coaches that are nationally respected by their peers and players from around the country. They were great players who have worked equally hard to make the same impact as coaches. They’re bright, charismatic, experienced and communicate well. I also love the fact that they have a diverse array of experience and can assist with all facets of pitching, hitting and fielding. They will give our players an incredible amount of resources to draw from.”

Allister served on the Stanford staff the past three seasons after she also served as an assistant coach for Georgia the two seasons prior. As part of Stanford’s 2009 NFCA West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year, she worked with the catchers, assisted with hitting and recruiting, and also served as the team's first base coach. In her stint at Georgia, she also served as the hitting coach for one of the nation’s top offenses and assisted in recruiting.

In her tenure in Palo Alto, the Cardinal made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, including Super Regional trips in 2008 and ‘09. Stanford posted its second-most wins ever (49) in ‘08, while it claimed 48 and 35 wins in ’09 and ’07. Georgia also enjoyed two of its most successful seasons ever and claimed 54 and 55 wins in 2006 and ’05, respectively, won an SEC title and back-to-back SEC East Division crowns, and also advanced to the Super Regional and Regional final.

“Oregon has so many things to offer,” Allister said. “It’s a program with a rich softball history, and part of a great university and conference. Coach White is an excellent coach and teacher, and I’m an thrilled to work with him. I also love the feeling when you walk into Eugene how much the community loves the Ducks, and how the university is completely behind you. It’s a exciting environment, and the department has displayed an unmatched commitment to its student-athletes being successful on the field and off.”

Dodd wrapped up her first year as an assistant coach with Nevada in 2009 and oversaw the Wolf Pack’s infielders and hitters. She also served as an undergraduate assistant coach with UCLA in 2008 after a storied playing career for the Bruins.

“I was drawn to the opportunity in many ways, especially to coach in the nation’s top softball conference,” Dodd said. “Mike’s name carries so much weight at the elite softball level, and I’m excited for the opportunity to learn from him in all aspects of the game. I’m excited to be back on the West Coast - an environment I know really well - and love the potential for this team.”

In 2009, she helped Nevada finish 40-19, make its third-ever NCAA tournament trip, rank as high as 17th nationally in the polls, and claim its second straight conference title. As a team, the Wolf Pack ranked top 30 nationally offensively in hitting (22nd, .301), slugging (23rd, .470), home runs per game (28th, 0.93) and runs per game (30th, 5.20). The squad combined for school records for home runs (55), walks (183) and stolen bases (56), and nearly broke other marks with their season totals for runs (307), triples (14) and RBI (288).

Both players left equally indelible marks on the Pac-10 as players and were NFCA Second-Team All-Americans as seniors in 2004 and 2007, respectively, among their many individual honors.

As a three-time All-Pac-10 catcher, Allister helped lead Stanford to a pair of Women's College World Series trips among its to four postseason appearances, and played more career games (266) than any other Cardinal player.  After she graduated in 2004, she played professionally as a member of the New England Riptide of the National Pro Fastpitch League in 2004 and ‘05.

Dodd capped her collegiate career as a three-time All-Region and All-Pac-10 Conference selection after she was the 2003 prep Gatorade National Player of the Year. The second baseman’s 36 career home runs was the eighth-best total in UCLA history, and on the mound she posted a 41-11 career record, 1.47 earned run average and 233 strikeouts.

The Ducks look ahead to their first season under White, a soon-to-be Hall of Fame pitcher and former U.S. National Team member, and one of the nation’s most respected softball coaches.

Oregon welcomes back 14 letterwinners, including senior Neena Bryant, an All-Pac-10 Second Team honoree in ’09. The squad also returns its three top pitchers from last season - junior Brittany Rumfelt and sophomores Mikayla Endicott and Samantha Skillingstad, and the latter was tabbed to the All-Pac-10 Freshman Team.

Starters from seven of the eight field positions also return in 2010 – senior outfielders Shelley Deadmond and Blair Williamson and first baseman Carlyn Re, junior designated player Monique Fuiava, infielder Cortney Kivett and catchers Ashley Kivett and Kaitlin Vitek, and sophomore infielder/outfielder Kelsey Chambers and infielder Lindsey Chambers.

- www.GoDucks.com –