Need I say more? What an embarrassing season. We have some of the top recruits-from the top travel teams-looking like JV players. This is NOT the poor players faults. We are going to miss the NCAA tournament after being predicted to finish 4th in conference play.

Imagine going from the top program of the early 2000's to last place. Ninemire refuses to evolve. She burns bridges with local coaches by acting like the queen b.... some stories I've heard I could never, ever repeat but just let me say-mortified.

Time is up. Retire with dignity. Or please be fired.

Recent former players are not supportive of her.

Why would they? Imagine being "coached" by someone who knows everything (while recently always finishing in the bottom Half of conference) but refuses to bring in anyone else

Also Tammy Lohman is part of the issue. If this program ever wants to return to greatness she must go as well. Her recruiting philosophy-for some odd reason-is taking the fifth best player on a SoCal traveling team and prioritizing her over a top NorCal talent. Calling her a hitting coach is laughable.

I agree. Is the recruit class bound if she's fired? This is a miracle recruit class that she has been building for 3-4-5 years. Two more fantastic recruits are high school juniors that will join the mix in 2020-21. I wish that Cal had a hitting coach. If Cal could land the Colorado State coach I would be for making the move now. GO BEARS!

We don't always agree on certain subjects on this site, CalFanatic. But, in this case. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

How do we get AD Knowlton's attention on this issue? Cal softball fans are NOT happy with the current state of the program. He will be sitting down with her very soon to evaluate the season now that it's over. I don't see the Bears playing in the post season. A last place finish is not acceptable particularly with the talent we have.

The new softball stadium will open in 2021. Name it for Ninemire or acknowledge her in some other manner at the stadium but it's time to move on.

S71-brings up a phenomenal point. This class coming in is so, so talented. I haven't been this excited about a class since 2011 Kostreba, Cordes and D Henderson (one of the most underrated players of all time at Cal).

Having this "coaching" staff in place to lead these players would be a slap in the face to anyone that cares about Cal.

Both pitchers performed worst than last year. Unless they were both injured do we replace the pitching coach too? Might need a total rebuild of the coaching staff.

SFCALBear72 said:

---

"How do we get AD Knowlton's attention on this issue?"

---

Email him - jim.knowlton@berkeley.edu

Schroeder71 said:

---

I agree. Is the recruit class bound if she's fired? This is a miracle recruit class that she has been building for 3-4-5 years. Two more fantastic recruits are high school juniors that will join the mix in 2020-21. I wish that Cal had a hitting coach. If Cal could land the Colorado State coach I would be for making the move now. GO BEARS!

---

I like in order of preference: Chelsea Spencer asst. @ Texas, Haley Woods, HC Foothill JC, and Vickie Galindo HC West valley. All played on the NC team in 2006.

Ccajon2 said:

---

Schroeder71 said:

---

I agree. Is the recruit class bound if she's fired? This is a miracle recruit class that she has been building for 3-4-5 years. Two more fantastic recruits are high school juniors that will join the mix in 2020-21. I wish that Cal had a hitting coach. If Cal could land the Colorado State coach I would be for making the move now. GO BEARS!

---

I like in order of preference: Chelsea Spencer asst. @ Texas, Haley Woods, HC Foothill JC, and Vickie Galindo HC West valley. All played on the NC team in 2006.

---

Spencer was a part of the 2002 NC team.

Spencer, Woods and Galindo played together in the 2003 and 2004 runner-up appearances and 2005 WCWS appearance.

Ccajon2 said:

---

Schroeder71 said:

---

I agree. Is the recruit class bound if she's fired? This is a miracle recruit class that she has been building for 3-4-5 years. Two more fantastic recruits are high school juniors that will join the mix in 2020-21. I wish that Cal had a hitting coach. If Cal could land the Colorado State coach I would be for making the move now. GO BEARS!

---

I like in order of preference: Chelsea Spencer asst. @ Texas, Haley Woods, HC Foothill JC, and Vickie Galindo HC West valley. All played on the NC team in 2006.

---

Spencer might have to take a pay cut to come to CaL.

59bear said:

---

Ccajon2 said:

---

Schroeder71 said:

---

I agree. Is the recruit class bound if she's fired? This is a miracle recruit class that she has been building for 3-4-5 years. Two more fantastic recruits are high school juniors that will join the mix in 2020-21. I wish that Cal had a hitting coach. If Cal could land the Colorado State coach I would be for making the move now. GO BEARS!

---

I like in order of preference: Chelsea Spencer asst. @ Texas, Haley Woods, HC Foothill JC, and Vickie Galindo HC West valley. All played on the NC team in 2006.

---

Spencer might have to take a pay cut to come to CaL.

---

What does DN get? Im guessing low 200s. Figure she never made waves about $ and that's why they kept her so long. I think the top paying job is Floridas, where Walton gets $1 mill?

CalFanatic said:

---

Ccajon2 said:

---

Schroeder71 said:

---

I agree. Is the recruit class bound if she's fired? This is a miracle recruit class that she has been building for 3-4-5 years. Two more fantastic recruits are high school juniors that will join the mix in 2020-21. I wish that Cal had a hitting coach. If Cal could land the Colorado State coach I would be for making the move now. GO BEARS!

---

I like in order of preference: Chelsea Spencer asst. @ Texas, Haley Woods, HC Foothill JC, and Vickie Galindo HC West valley. All played on the NC team in 2006.

---

Spencer was a part of the 2002 NC team.

Spencer, Woods and Galindo played together in the 2003 and 2004 runner-up appearances and 2005 WCWS appearance.

---

My bad CF. Would be nice to get all three on a new staff next year, doesn't matter who's the HC, they all know how to win.

SFCALBear72 said:

---

We don't always agree on certain subjects on this site, CalFanatic. But, in this case. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

How do we get AD Knowlton's attention on this issue? Cal softball fans are NOT happy with the current state of the program. He will be sitting down with her very soon to evaluate the season now that it's over. I don't see the Bears playing in the post season. A last place finish is not acceptable particularly with the talent we have.

The new softball stadium will open in 2021. Name it for Ninemire or acknowledge her in some other manner at the stadium but it's time to move on.

---

Are we going to play our 2020 home season at the furds while they build the new field?

Ccajon2 said:

---

SFCALBear72 said:

---

We don't always agree on certain subjects on this site, CalFanatic. But, in this case. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

How do we get AD Knowlton's attention on this issue? Cal softball fans are NOT happy with the current state of the program. He will be sitting down with her very soon to evaluate the season now that it's over. I don't see the Bears playing in the post season. A last place finish is not acceptable particularly with the talent we have.

The new softball stadium will open in 2021. Name it for Ninemire or acknowledge her in some other manner at the stadium but it's time to move on.

---

Are we going to play our 2020 home season at the furds while they build the new field?

---

Don't know.. Haven't seen any mention of a replacement field.

Ccajon2 said:

---

SFCALBear72 said:

---

We don't always agree on certain subjects on this site, CalFanatic. But, in this case. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

How do we get AD Knowlton's attention on this issue? Cal softball fans are NOT happy with the current state of the program. He will be sitting down with her very soon to evaluate the season now that it's over. I don't see the Bears playing in the post season. A last place finish is not acceptable particularly with the talent we have.

The new softball stadium will open in 2021. Name it for Ninemire or acknowledge her in some other manner at the stadium but it's time to move on.

---

Are we going to play our 2020 home season at the furds while they build the new field?

---

Since we played the furds in Berkeley this year ..they would be playing at the furds in 2020 anyways.

Ccajon2 said:

---

59bear said:

---

Ccajon2 said:

---

Schroeder71 said:

---

I agree. Is the recruit class bound if she's fired? This is a miracle recruit class that she has been building for 3-4-5 years. Two more fantastic recruits are high school juniors that will join the mix in 2020-21. I wish that Cal had a hitting coach. If Cal could land the Colorado State coach I would be for making the move now. GO BEARS!

---

I like in order of preference: Chelsea Spencer asst. @ Texas, Haley Woods, HC Foothill JC, and Vickie Galindo HC West valley. All played on the NC team in 2006.

---

Spencer might have to take a pay cut to come to CaL.

---

What does DN get? Im guessing low 200s. Figure she never made waves about $ and that's why they kept her so long. I think the top paying job is Floridas, where Walton gets $1 mill?

---

Gasso @ OU makes $1 mill+ and I believe Mike White gets about that at UT. Cal isn't going to pay big bucks for this job.

Per the UC employee database, Ninemire's annual salary for 2017 was gross 249,067 (regular 208667, other 40,400).

Cal officially misses the tournament after being projected to finish 4th In PAC 12 play. Cal tied for last place- with 5 conference wins.

I hope everyone is writing the AD and voicing their extreme dissatisfaction for the state of the program.

Ninemire's has been a big part of softball at Cal for decades. I cannot see Knowlton letting her go, unless she wants to call it quits. They would need to hire someone that I'm sure she is comfortable with. Would not want another situation like Milano with Esqueror.

I heard someone on the board suggest the Colorado St. head coach. I believe she is an Alumni there. Not sure if she would leave. It would be nice to get a big time coach, who sees a new state of the art field and complex for the softball team. Hopefully Knowlton does a better job with softball than how we feel about basketball. I do like Fox, but thought we could do better.

Gkhoury2325 said:

---

Ninemire's has been a big part of softball at Cal for decades. I cannot see Knowlton letting her go, unless she wants to call it quits. They would need to hire someone that I'm sure she is comfortable with. Would not want another situation like Milano with Esqueror.

I heard someone on the board suggest the Colorado St. head coach. I believe she is an Alumni there. Not sure if she would leave. It would be nice to get a big time coach, who sees a new state of the art field and complex for the softball team. Hopefully Knowlton does a better job with softball than how we feel about basketball. I do like Fox, but thought we could do better.

---

I suspect you're right for now but another year like the last 3 could force his hand. And unless a pitching miracle occurs, it's hard to project any significant improvement in 2020.

59bear said:

---

Gkhoury2325 said:

---

Ninemire's has been a big part of softball at Cal for decades. I cannot see Knowlton letting her go, unless she wants to call it quits. They would need to hire someone that I'm sure she is comfortable with. Would not want another situation like Milano with Esqueror.

I heard someone on the board suggest the Colorado St. head coach. I believe she is an Alumni there. Not sure if she would leave. It would be nice to get a big time coach, who sees a new state of the art field and complex for the softball team. Hopefully Knowlton does a better job with softball than how we feel about basketball. I do like Fox, but thought we could do better.

---

I suspect you're right for now but another year like the last 3 could force his hand. And unless a pitching miracle occurs, it's hard to project any significant improvement in 2020.

---

I would like to think that Ninemire needs a real hitting coach. The pitching took a bit of a backstep. I could wait to see what the new pitching coach comes up with as recruits and her teachings. Pitching coaches name escapes me, but she was an all-American at UCLA I believe.

Oregon State, Cal, Oregon & Utah failed to qualify for postseason play...Stanford is in the Florida Regional while ASU faces the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. I would doubt that the latter two teams will win on the road in SEC
country. The Bears had lots of experience playing at Florida (2x), @ Georgia (2x), @Alabama (1x) & @Michigan (2x).

Oregon State was 26-19 overall and a half game behind Stanford in conference play, yet failed to qualify for NCAA play. I would speculate that Cal was not close to earning a spot in the 64 team field.

Thirteen of the fourteen SEC teams are in the NCAA postseason. Six are hosting regionals! It appears that the days of the powerful Pac Nine are over with only three strong teams [UCLA, Washington & Arizona] earning regionals at home. The rest of the conference appears to be dropping off except for the major advance by Stanford. The Cardinal vacated the cellar and jumped 5 spots to finish 5th this season. The Big Ten got 6 (of 14) teams invited, while the Big 12 & ACC received 4 invites each.

Bradie Fillmore transferred to Boise State and they'll meet Stanford in Gainesville, Fla.

Anyone hear where Cal will play their "home" games next season? GO BEARS!

BearinOC said:

---

SFCALBear72 said:

---

"How do we get AD Knowlton's attention on this issue?"

---

Email him - jim.knowlton@berkeley.edu

---

That email address didn't work for me. Came back undeliverable. Likewise when I took out the period between names. Not surprised. He doesn't have an email address listed in the staff directory on Calbears.com.

For years the Pac 10 and 12 dominated the softball world series. It wasn't than long ago that no team east of the Mississippi had ever won a title. Then the NCAA changed the way the playoffs worked (don't remember the specifics) so that there would be less PAC teams in the finals. Still we (PAC) won. Then the other conferences, especially the SEC, decided that the status quo was unacceptable and threw tons of money into facilities and coaching and raided California for good players. It's no secret that California produces the most and best softball players and these outside teams came in with their facilities, etc., and ran off with California players. Especially when a recruit sees these fancy new stadiums and locker rooms and looks at what Cal has to offer. As we have seen with football and basketball, many top recruits don't stay in the state or the conference.

SFCALBear72 said:

---

BearinOC said:

---

SFCALBear72 said:

---

"How do we get AD Knowlton's attention on this issue?"

---

Email him - jim.knowlton@berkeley.edu

---

That email address didn't work for me. Came back undeliverable. Likewise when I took out the period between names. Not surprised. He doesn't have an email address listed in the staff directory on Calbears.com.

---

Quite bizarre as I just emailed him and got the following reply on April 13th from jim.knowlton@berkeley.edu:

"Thank you for your note.

As you know, the team is not performing at the level that we expect.

As we do with each of our programs, we evaluate throughout the season, and then do the same at the end of the season.

We will do that for our Softball Program.

Thank you for your support of the program and I am hopeful we will finish strong."

BearinOC said:

---

SFCALBear72 said:

---

BearinOC said:

---

SFCALBear72 said:

---

"How do we get AD Knowlton's attention on this issue?"

---

Email him - jim.knowlton@berkeley.edu

---

That email address didn't work for me. Came back undeliverable. Likewise when I took out the period between names. Not surprised. He doesn't have an email address listed in the staff directory on Calbears.com.

---

Quite bizarre as I just emailed him and got the following reply on April 13th from jim.knowlton@berkeley.edu:

"Thank you for your note.

As you know, the team is not performing at the level that we expect.

As we do with each of our programs, we evaluate throughout the season, and then do the same at the end of the season.

We will do that for our Softball Program.

Thank you for your support of the program and I am hopeful we will finish strong."

---

It was my error that caused the problem. I sent an email to him today.

I've emailed as well. This is not a talent problem. Our roster is filled with many former Top 100 recruits. This is a coaching problem.

CalFanatic said:

---

I've emailed as well. This is not a talent problem. Our roster is filled with many former Top 100 recruits. This is a coaching problem.

---

That was the focus of my message too. Coaching issue not player issue. Poor conference record three seasons in a row. Non-factor in conference race.

What the Hell, Stanford who was suppose to be the bottom dweller made the dance this year? This really pours the salt in the wound. They have by far one of the worst players in Pac 9 softball teams. Holy crap Ninemire, what are you doing?! You suck!

Allister is one of the top young coaches in the game. Look at what she did at Minnesota- before returning to Stanford.

All in all there is a ton of young, great talent in the coaching ranks. Heck, one is former Cal star Courtney Deifel (Scott) at Arkansas. We can do better.

CalFanatic said:

---

All in all there is a ton of young, great talent in the coaching ranks. Heck, one is former Cal star Courtney Deifel (Scott) at Arkansas. We can do better.

---

Wow a name from the past. Didn't know she was into coaching. Wonder if Joselyn Forest is available to be a pitching coach. I know she was into fitness but wasn't she also still giving private pitching lessons. Remember Nikki Owens I believe trained with joselyn.

Ninemire is in the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame class announced today. Maybe this will encourage her to retire.

SFCALBear72 said:

---

Ninemire is in the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame class announced today. Maybe this will encourage her to retire.

---

This sounds like she may be retiring. What better way to retire someone with dignity.