Missouri softball coach Ehren Earleywine will return in 2017, per multiple reports on Thursday, although no official word has been given by the athletics department.
Earleywine, who was involved in a four-month investigation by both the Missouri athletics department and the Title IX office for alleged verbal abuse, will return to the program he’s led for 10 years.
In that 10-year tenure, the Missouri softball team has gone 453–154, made eight NCAA Super Regionals and taken three trips to the NCAA College World Series. Last year, the Tigers lost to Michigan in the Super Regionals.
Prior to that, Earleywine was thrust into the spotlight as part of the investigation that ignited a player-driven protest of the Missouri athletics department in May. On May 13, the coach called for his players to end their protest, which ended on May 18.
Last week, as new athletics director Jim Sterk was being introduced, interim chancellor Hank Foley said the situation “would be resolved soon.” Per reports, many are expecting an official announcement in the near future. None has been made from the athletics department thus far.
Ahead of the 2017 season, Missouri will be without last year’s ace pitcher in now senior Paige Lowary, who started every game in 2016’s NCAA Tournament. Lowary announced in July that she would transfer to Oklahoma. Senior Tori Finucane, another pitcher for the Tigers, elected to transfer to Minnesota.
_Edited by Peter Baugh | pbaugh@themaneater.com_