OKLAHOMA CITY (March 29, 2024) – USA Softball announced Monday the coaches that will join the Women’s National Team (WNT) Program during the 2024 season. Selected by the USA Softball WNT & JWNT Selection Committees, Kelly Kretschman (Head Coach), Alisa Goler (Asst. Coach), Rachel Lawson (Asst. Coach) and Cody Thomson (Asst. Coach) will lead the Women’s Elite Team. Kyla Holas (Head Coach), Goler (Asst. Coach) and Kretschman (Asst. Coach) will be at the helm of the U-18 Women’s National Team (WNT).
U.S. Women’s Elite Team Coaching Staff Insight
“I am honored and beyond excited to be named the head coach for the U.S. Women’s Elite Team this summer,” said Kretschman. “I am extremely passionate about our National Teams program and if I can be a small part in our mission to win gold in the 2028 Olympics, I’m all in. Having been a part of the Olympics and the Elite Team before, I believe I can connect with these athletes. My goal is to best prepare them for not only this Japan All-Star Series but to inspire and challenge them to be at their best every single time they step on the field in that USA uniform.”
A two-time Olympian, Kretschman has been involved with USA Softball as both an athlete or coach since 2003, competing in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics while also assisting with training for the 2021 Olympic team. Kretschman spent 13 seasons as a professional softball player in the National Pro Fast Pitch (NPF) league, earning three-consecutive NPF Player of the Year awards (2015-2017), before becoming head coach of the USSSA Pride in 2022. Heavily involved in the growth of softball around the United States, Kretschman also currently helps coordinate the USA Softball High Performance Program.
Alongside Kretschman will be first-time USA Softball coach, Alisa Goler – a former softball player at the University of Georgia where she was a three-time All-American and 2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist. Goler is currently the head coach at Western Illinois University.
Also joining the U.S. coaching staff for the first time in her career is Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson. Coach Lawson boasts a strong resume with 14 NCAA Regional Appearances, eight NCAA Super Regional Appearances and one Women’s College World Series run. Lawson brings a wealth of knowledge and has held the head coach position at Kentucky since 2007 — her decorated career has been highlighted so far by earning the National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2014 and being named the 2016 SEC Coach of the Year.
Current head coach of the Utah Valley softball program, Cody Thomson joins the U.S. Women’s Elite Team coaching staff after spending the 2023 season with the Women’s National Team as a pitching coach. Thomson helped guide the Eagles to a gold medal finish at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Thomson has a long history in the sport of softball – being a USA Softball fast pitch player and being involved in different facets of women’s college softball in Utah since 2005.
Recently announced by USA Softball, the U.S. Women’s Elite Team will take on Great Britain in a pair of exhibition games at the conclusion of the Women’s National Team training camp in late June before heading to the Japan All-Star Series in July.
Click here for more information on the U.S. Women’s Elite Team »
U.S. U-18 Women’s National Team Breakdown
The U-18 WNT Coaching Staff is highlighted by returning head coach, Kyla Holas, while Kretschman and Goler will serve as assistant coaches. Holas recently led the U-15 WNT in a dominating 2023 season where the Eagles won gold in three events – including the 2023 WBSC U-15 Women’s Softball World Cup. Previously, Holas helped the 2021 U-18 WNT to gold medal finishes at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games and the 2021 WBSC Junior Women’s World Cup, in addition to guiding the U-17 WNT to gold at the 2019 U-17 Women’s Pan American Championship.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Kelly on previous opportunities and I think she is one of the best offensive minds in the game. Besides being a former Olympian, these athletes will be able to walk away with having an opportunity to listen and learn from one of the greatest hitters in our game,” said Holas. “I have known Alisa as a tremendous athlete and followed her strong coaching career. I look forward to working alongside her and seeing how she can impact these young athletes on the field.”
The U-18 WNT is set to host the WBSC U-18 Women’s World Cup Group C Stage Event in Dallas, Texas later this year, in which the squad hopes to gain a bid to the WBSC U-18 World Cup Finals in 2025.
Click here for more information on the U-18 Women’s National Team »
For more information on the Women’s National Team Program, visit USASoftball.com.