Shaw, Loza Earn Full-Time Promotions
July 19, 2023 | Softball
STARKVILLE – A pair of familiar faces will remain in Starkville, as Zac Shaw and Alyssa Loza have been promoted to full-time positions with Mississippi State softball.
Shaw served as the Bulldogs' volunteer assistant coach in 2023, and he will now take on a full-time coaching position with the NCAA's approval of a third paid assistant in softball. Loza spent the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant after completing her pitching career at State in 2021. She will now take on a fellowship position assisting the staff with player development and team operations.
"We are excited to announce the promotions of both Zac and Alyssa and to keep them on staff with us another year," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Zac brings a tremendous amount of experience to our infield, and I am looking forward to the team getting another year to learn from him. He will also spend time with our offense, oversee camps and clinics and assist us with recruiting."
Shaw is also an active member of the United States' Men's National Team and helped the Americans win their first WBSC Men's Softball World Cup medal in over 20 years at the 2022 event in New Zealand. He played in all nine games of the tournament last winter, driving in five runs. Prior to that, he competed at the Pan American Games where he batted .526 as the U.S. finished fourth.
Before coming to MSU, Shaw was Kansas City's hitting and infield coach while also serving as recruiting coordinator for three years. In his second season, the Roos ranked second in the Summit League in batting average, runs scored, doubles, home runs and on-base percentage.
"Alyssa Loza has been one of the hardest-working people we have had come through this program, and I am thrilled to be able to keep her on staff," Ricketts added. "Data collection and technology usage are growing rapidly in our game, and Alyssa will be a great asset to collecting, managing and streamlining our data to better assist the coaches when in comes to player development."
Loza spent the previous two seasons aiding in the team's travel operations and equipment ordering. She also charted opponents and helped develop scouting reports for two years.
As a student-athlete, Loza played three seasons at State, tossing 147.0 career innings as a Bulldog. In that time, she three five complete games, including the third perfect game in school history, and recorded seven saves. She was a three-time member of the SEC Honor Roll and graduated with dual bachelor's degrees in marketing and management in May 2021. She completed her master's in sports administration at MSU in 2023.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Shaw served as the Bulldogs' volunteer assistant coach in 2023, and he will now take on a full-time coaching position with the NCAA's approval of a third paid assistant in softball. Loza spent the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant after completing her pitching career at State in 2021. She will now take on a fellowship position assisting the staff with player development and team operations.
"We are excited to announce the promotions of both Zac and Alyssa and to keep them on staff with us another year," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Zac brings a tremendous amount of experience to our infield, and I am looking forward to the team getting another year to learn from him. He will also spend time with our offense, oversee camps and clinics and assist us with recruiting."
Shaw is also an active member of the United States' Men's National Team and helped the Americans win their first WBSC Men's Softball World Cup medal in over 20 years at the 2022 event in New Zealand. He played in all nine games of the tournament last winter, driving in five runs. Prior to that, he competed at the Pan American Games where he batted .526 as the U.S. finished fourth.
Before coming to MSU, Shaw was Kansas City's hitting and infield coach while also serving as recruiting coordinator for three years. In his second season, the Roos ranked second in the Summit League in batting average, runs scored, doubles, home runs and on-base percentage.
"Alyssa Loza has been one of the hardest-working people we have had come through this program, and I am thrilled to be able to keep her on staff," Ricketts added. "Data collection and technology usage are growing rapidly in our game, and Alyssa will be a great asset to collecting, managing and streamlining our data to better assist the coaches when in comes to player development."
Loza spent the previous two seasons aiding in the team's travel operations and equipment ordering. She also charted opponents and helped develop scouting reports for two years.
As a student-athlete, Loza played three seasons at State, tossing 147.0 career innings as a Bulldog. In that time, she three five complete games, including the third perfect game in school history, and recorded seven saves. She was a three-time member of the SEC Honor Roll and graduated with dual bachelor's degrees in marketing and management in May 2021. She completed her master's in sports administration at MSU in 2023.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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