Argo Athletics

UGF’s Jo Bailey among those selected to the NAIA All-Region 1 Softball Team

GREAT FALLS, MT (Friday, May 9, 2008) — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the All-Region 1 Softball team on Friday (May 9, 2008) and one Lady Argo student-athlete was selected to the team.

Jo Bailey, a senior infielder from Great Falls, Montana, was one of eighteen student-athletes in the region who has been recognized by the NAIA regional coaches and was selected to the All-Region team.

Bailey led the Lady Argos in hits with 43 and had four stolen bases this season. She was ranked No. 19 in NAIA Division I Softball with a slugging percentage of 0.786. The former C.M.R. High standout also had 22 RBI’s, 8 triples and 8 home runs.

This year’s Region I Player and Pitcher of the Year went to the College of Idaho’s Katie Zillner. The senior from Emmett, Idaho had a 15-7 record for the Coyotes with a 1.41 ERA and 220 strikeouts. She also batted .343 including five doubles, two home runs and 23 runs scored.

Oregon Institute of Technology Head Coach Greg Stewart was the Region 1 Coach of the Year as his team compiled a 34-12 record (20th in the NAIA) and won the Cascade Conference’s regular season title. He also took home his fourth conference Coach of the Year award earlier this week.

The Lady Argos finished up their second season of competition with a 14-17 overall record.

You can find all of the stats from this past softball season by going to the 2008 UGF Softball Stats page.

By: Kevin Scott

Former University of Mary coach to guide the Lady Argos soccer team

GREAT FALLS, MT (Monday, May 5, 2008) — The University of Great Falls Athletic Director Jim Hall announced the hiring of Brian Clarke as the new women’s soccer coach at a press conference today. Clarke replaces Jamie Rizzuto who resigned in December. He becomes the second head coach of the Lady Argos as they head into the program’s fourth season of competition next fall. He will inherit 14 returners from a squad that produced a 3-13 overall record and a garnered the program’s first Frontier Conference victory last season.

Brian comes to the University of Great Falls from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. As a Marauder player, Brian was named team captain his senior year and was also named an NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete. After completing his playing career for the University of Mary, Brian stepped into the assistant coach’s role for the 2006 season. After just one season as the assistant, Clarke was promoted to the Head Coach position in January of 2007. The Marauders tallied a 4-13-1 record in a major rebuilding effort during Clarke’s first season.

“We are thrilled that Brian has agreed to be our next women’s soccer coach. He is an exceptionally mature and talented young coach who has a very bright future in front of him,” stated Hall. “We were especially impressed with his record as a recruiter as he has signed 17 players over the last two seasons despite some extenuating circumstances. Additionally, he has extensive ties to our recruiting bases in Montana and Wyoming and I have no doubt that he’ll be able to hit the ground running and continue to strengthen the talent level of our women’s soccer program.”

Clarke had this to say about the opportunity to take over the Lady Argos. “It was an easy decision. I saw a ton of potential for success. It is a great university, there is a tremendous athletic staff, and I was impressed with the recent and planned renovations to the athletic facilities and campus. I’d like to thank Athletic Director Jim Hall and President Eugene McAllister for giving me the opportunity to lead the women’s soccer program to the next level.”

Clarke has already begun recruiting and searching for an assistant coach. “There is a lot of work to be done, but it’s worth doing to ensure the continued rise of Argo women’s soccer,” stated Clarke.

What others are saying about Brian Clarke

“I have a lot of confidence in Brian Clarke, I wish we could have kept him here. The University of Great Falls has hired a good one. I am sure he’s going to do a great job.” -- Al Bortke – Director of Athletics, University of Mary

“I have a lot of respect for what Brian was able to accomplish in a short time at the University of Mary. From everything that I know about him personally and professionally he’s going to be a great fit here at the University of Great Falls.” -- Tim Brooks – Men’s Soccer Coach, University of Great Falls

“I am really excited about the fresh perspective and new ideas Coach Clarke will bring to our soccer program. His goals and objectives for the program closely matched those of our team and we really think he can lead us to the next level.” -- Kelsey Chytka – Current Soccer Player

By: Kevin Scott

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