ENMU hires new softball coach

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University filled its vacant softball coach position Thursday, adding former Urbana coach Kira Zeiter to the green and silver fold.

Zeiter will take over the Greyhound program, effective Monday, according to a release from the school.

The Tucson, Arizona native replaces Katie Welborn, who resigned after three seasons with the program’s second-highest wins total at 53-112.

Zeiter coached three seasons at Urbana, going 35-103 with a Mountain East Conference tournament run in her final season.

She resigned her position in late April, citing a desire to move closer to her family.

"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to lead the ENMU softball program. I want to thank President (Jeff) Elwell, Dr. Waggoner (Greg, ENMU athletic director), and the search committee for having the belief and trust in me to take over this program," said Zeiter. "After spending time on campus and meeting the tremendous staff, it became clear that ENMU is a place with people that I wanted to work alongside and a university that has an exciting future ahead. I'm looking forward to meeting the team and starting a new era of ENMU softball."

Zeiter got her start coaching at Division-II Fort Lewis College, where she went 105-138 in five seasons and set a school record for wins in her second season with 30.

Zeiter spent her playing career at Adams State, where she was a three-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection. She is the school’s career leader in games played and started, and is fourth in homers (20), third in RBIs (98) and second in doubles (36) and walks (86). She also spent time as a grad assistant with the Grizzlies, who went 76-59 over those three seasons.

"We are very pleased to have Kira Zeiter on board our coaching staff to lead the ENMU softball program moving forward. Kira has extensive successful head coaching experience in the NCAA D-II and is familiar with ENMU and the Lone Star Conference," Waggoner said. "Kira also has an extensive recruiting network throughout the southwest and she is a fine addition to our ENMU athletic team. We look forward to working with her in the years to come and we are confident that ENMU softball is in good hands."

She’ll take over a program that has made strides but has struggled trying to rejoin the Lone Star Conference elite since winning the LSC South in 2001. The Greyhounds have posted nine consecutive losing seasons and finished last in the LSC in six of the last 10 seasons.