Ole Miss Softball Names National Champion Pitcher to Staff, Promotes Volunteer Assistant

Photo by Robert Jordan Ole Miss Communications

Ole Miss head coach Mike Smith announced the hiring of Taryne Mowatt and Ruben Felix as full-time assistant coaches for the softball program on Friday. Mowatt brings her experience as a former All-American pitcher to the Rebels, while Felix has been promoted from the volunteer assistant coach position he held last season.

Mowatt was recently an assistant coach at California Baptist for three seasons, helping the team to NCAA regional appearances each year along with PacWest Conference championships in 2012 and 2014. As the team’s pitching coach, Mowatt instructed a pitching staff that consisted of program-record holders for wins, innings pitched and complete games. She also coached a conference pitcher of the year, freshman pitcher of the year, and three all-conference honorees.

“I am excited to welcome Taryne to our softball program here at Ole Miss,” said Coach Smith. “As a national champion and All-American, Taryne has transferred her success as a player to now coaching collegiate pitchers. Her accomplishments on the field prove that hard work and dedication pays off, and she is a valuable addition to the team.”

During her playing days, Mowatt was unstoppable in the circle as she led the University of Arizona to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, she collected numerous awards after breaking single-season school records for innings pitched (370), strikeouts (522) and victories (42). Mowatt was named Most Valuable Player at the Women’s College World Series, setting four tournament records during the Wildcats’ 2007 national title run. After a season that went down as one of the best in NCAA softball history, Mowatt collected two ESPY awards as the Best Female Athlete and the Best Female College Athlete.

Following her successful collegiate career, Mowatt was selected in the first round of the 2008 National Pro Fastpitch Draft. She played for five teams throughout her six years as a professional, including one season in Holland competing for the Den Bosch Gryphons. In National Pro Fastpitch, Mowatt spent time with the Washington Glory, Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits and New York Comets.

Mowatt received her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Arizona in 2009.

Felix, a former Major League Baseball coach, joined the Ole Miss Softball staff as the Rebels’ Volunteer Coach/Camp Coordinator for the 2015 campaign after four seasons as the top softball assistant coach & recruiting coordinator at the University of Central Florida. In two of his last three seasons at UCF, Felix helped the Knights advance to the NCAA tournament.

“Ruben was an irreplaceable asset for us last season, and he is well-deserving of this promotion to a full-time assistant coach,” noted Coach Smith. “His knowledge of the game helped our program reach new heights in 2015, and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish in year two with Ruben on staff.”

In his first season with the Rebels, Felix helped guide the Rebels to a record-setting season offensively as Ole Miss set the mark in every offensive category. Felix also helped guide the Rebels to the program’s fourth SEC Tournament appearance in school history and tied the single-season mark for wins.

Felix graduated from Texas Tech University in 2000 with a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies. Felix has been married for 16 years to his wife, Michelle, who is a nurse at the Oxford Children’s Clinic. They have one son, Matthew Ripken Felix.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics