June 28, 2012

TUCSON--Former University of Arizona All-American Alicia Hollowell has been named an assistant softball coach at her alma mater.

Hollowell, 28, served as UA's director of softball operations under Coach Mike Candrea this past season, although she was elevated to interim full-time status for the final three weeks of the season. She joins eight-year assistant Stacy Iveson and replaces long-time assistant Larry Ray on Candrea's staff.

"I have always been impressed with the competitiveness and passion with which Alicia played the game, and now she brings that same approach to our coaching staff. She always has been a student of the game and brings great knowledge, positive energy, and bleeds red and blue," he said.

Candrea said Hollowell's duties would include close work with Arizona's pitchers. "She's been in the circle, pitched Arizona to a national championship in 2006, represented the USA and played the game at the highest levels possible. Alicia knows what it takes to play this game at the highest levels," Candrea said.

"I'm just thrilled to be back with Coach Candrea in such a role," Hollowell said. "It feels like home and is just awesome to be able to contribute on the field. I've been there, done some good things and will do everything possible to keep Arizona Softball at the top of the game," she said.

A four-time All-America player as a Wildcat from 2003-06, including first-time honors her first two years, Hollowell is the Arizona career record holder in victories with 134, innings pitched (1,122) and strikeouts (1,768). She was 40-5 in 2003, 41-4 in 2004, 31-9 in 2005 and 32-5 in 2006 when she pitched Arizona to its seventh NCAA Championship and won the Ruby Award as UA's top female student-athlete.

She was a finalist for the Honda Award as the nation's top player in 2004, and a finalist for USA Softball's similar citation in 2004 and 2006. Her career earned run average of 0.87 ranks her No. 6 in UA's record book but best among players whose career came after the advent of the livelier ball. She threw 81 shutouts and 16 no-hitters during her career, both UA bests.

She was a member of the U.S. National Team from 2005-08, winning two World Cup titles, the 2007 Pan American Games' gold medal, and serving as alternate for the 2008 U.S. Olympic squad. She earned her degree from UA in 2007 while serving as a graduate assistant under Candrea. She was an assistant coach at UC Davis in 2010 and 2011.