New Tallahassee Community College softball coach Brynn Baca excited for first-time opportunity
On Thursday, Tallahassee Community College softball did something that it hadn't done in two decades.
The program introduced a new head coach, Brynn Baca, who is set to begin her tenure of leading the Eagles this upcoming season.
Baca, from Round Rock, Texas, replaces Patti Townsend, who guided TCC softball for 20 years. The Eagles finished with a 22-20 record in 2023.
"I really want to thank TCC for this fantastic opportunity. It's something that I've been striving for," Baca said as she took the podium.
"I knew I wanted to coach softball since I was a sophomore in college and TCC welcomed me with open arms. I'm ready to hit the ground running, get started, and take the foundation that Coach Patti built."
Baca, the fourth head coach in program history, was hired on June 28.
She most recently served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Stephen F. Austin from 2019-2023. The Ladyjacks won the Southland Conference Regular Season Championship in 2021. Baca also helped Division II Southern Arkansas reach the 2018 College World Series as a graduate assistant.
TCC's new hire also has experience being a Division I softball player, earning All-Southland Conference First Team honors twice while performing as Lamar University's catcher from 2013-2017.
"We wanted someone that could carry on the tradition and legacy that was established," TCC director of athletics Chuck Moore said. "Which was creating great student-athletes on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.
"What really stood out to me and the committee was her player's mentality that she carried into her coaching. We're looking for this next generation to be built up and mirror their head coach."
Tallahassee Community College softball coach Brynn Baca excited for the responsibility that comes with new, elevated role
Baca is walking into her first head coaching job.
And she feels prepared to step into the shoes of Townsend, who finished her tenure at TCC with a Panhandle Championship, a FCSAA Championship, and three NJCAA Region 8B/FCSAA Gulf District Championships.
"Coach Patti has built a life and something incredible at TCC," Baca said. "But I love pressure. If you don't want the pressure, the pressure is going to find you.
"It's definitely going to be very difficult, but I'm excited for it."
Baca's first task is fielding a team for the upcoming fall softball preseason.
The new coach has been inherited two sophomores from last year's team, right-handed pitcher Jolee Camp and first baseman Pyper Castro. TCC recently got a commitment from catcher Tori Richardson, from Oak Forest, Illinois, on July 18.
Baca currently has six players and says that she has athletes from up north and Canada set to join the team. She also recruited in Texas before moving to Tallahassee and has plans of taking a recruiting trip this weekend.
TCC's new coach wants her roster to reach 11 or 12 players by TCC's first day of classes on August 21.
Interested in softball at Tallahassee Community College? TCC Softball is looking for experienced players to join the team. There are scholarships available!
Contact head coach Brynn Baca at brynn.baca@tcc.fl.edu. pic.twitter.com/VFPDUJWzya— TCC Softball (@TCCeaglesSB) July 18, 2023
"I want to get girls in that who want to absolutely grind," Baca said of her recruiting philosophy. "I'm confident that we can get those girls in because he have something special here. I walked into this place and hadn't seen anything like it.
"There's going to be competition within the team, which is going to push us to compete against other teams and set us apart because every position is open at this point.
"I'm really excited about the type of girls we're bringing in."
And of course, a portion of Baca's recruiting pitches will happen in the Big Bend Area.
Since being hired by TCC in June, Baca has began reaching out to local high school coaches. She also hopes to connect and build rapports with Florida A&M coach Camise Patterson and Florida State coach Lonni Alameda.
"Those relationships are super important to getting community support," Baca said. "I've already started to reach out to some high school coaches around here to see if they have some players that would be good for this program."
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TCC Softball: Brynn Baca introduced as the Eagles' softball coach
