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Becerra Named Interim Head Softball Coach at Metro State
by Andy Schlichting, MSCD sports information director
DENVER - Metro State Athletic Director Joan McDermott announced
on Tuesday that Vanessa Becerra (pronounced
“ba-SERR-ah”) has been named interim head softball
coach. Becerra replaces Jen Fisher, who stepped down on Friday to
accept the head coaching position at Colorado State University.
“We really feel that Vanessa is the best fit for our
program,” McDermott said. “She has done an excellent
job as an assistant under Jen and it should be an easy transition
for the student-athletes as she shares the same philosophies as
Jen. We’re excited for Vanessa to be able to continue the
success of Metro State softball on and off the field.”
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to lead these
young ladies,” Becerra said. “I’ve had the
privilege of coaching under one of the best coaches around and am
excited to continue the great tradition Coach Fisher has started. I
expect an easy transition as Coach has really prepared our staff
and our student-athletes well. I would also like to thank Joan
McDermott for this opportunity. She has shown a great knack for
finding successful coaches and I look forward to continuing that
trend.”
Becerra has spent the past three seasons as the top assistant at
Metro State, helping the Roadrunners to Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference regular season and tournament championships and NCAA
Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010. Becerra and the rest of
the coaching staff were named National Fastpitch Coaches
Association Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year for NCAA
Division II following the 2010 season, in which Metro State posted
a 53-6 record. Included in that win total was a conference record
37 wins with just two losses. The Roadrunners also shattered the
national home run record, totaling 112 to top the previous record
of 98. They also broke the RMAC records for ERA, runs scored (tied
the previous record) and home runs in conference games. Metro State
also set the school record by winning 17 consecutive games from
April 10 to May 6. As a result of the team’s success 2010,
Head Coach Jen Fisher earned the highest honor for a college coach,
garnering CaptainU National Coach of the Year honors.
Becerra played the 2006-07 season at Armstrong Atlantic University
in Savannah, Ga., where she was the 2007 Peach Belt Conference
Defensive Player of the Year as the team’s catcher.
Prior to her time at Armstrong Atlantic, Becerra played for two
seasons under Fisher at Otero Junior College. While at Otero, she
earned All-America and Region IX Player of the Year honors in 2005,
and also helped the Rattlers to two Region IX championships.
Becerra graduated from Metro State in 2009 with a bachelor’s
degree in sport industry operations.
