University of Texas at Dallas Athletics

James Kling became the seventh head coach of the UTD softball program prior to the 2019 campaign and recently concluded his third season with the squad.

In his debut season, Kling led the Comets to a 17-21 (.447) overall record and a 12-14 mark in American Southwest Conference play. The Comets qualified for the ASC Tournament for school-record fourth consecutive season. Prior to his arrival at UTD, Kling spent eight seasons at Our Lady of the Lake and now boasts a career record of 230-194-1 (.541) mark in 11 seasons as a collegiate head coach.

In 2019, he mentored one All-American, two All-Region performers. Outfielder Melissa Livermore became the first-ever UTD softball player to be named the ASC Player of the  Year and was later tabbed the ASC Female Athlete of the Year. Over his three seasons, he mentored eigth All-ASC players.
 

• Career Record (2011-21, 11 seasons) --- 230-194-1
• UTD Record (2019-21, 3 seasons) --- 29-57 (20-39 ASC)
• ASC Tournament Appearances:  1 (2019)

Kling came to UT Dallas after spending eight seasons as the head coach at Our Lady of the Lakes University in San Antonio. While with the Saints, Kling amassed a 201-137-1 overall record with a 110-57 mark in Red River Athletic Conference play. He took over the OLLU program in its second year of existence in 2011 and quickly built the Saints into a conference contender. A two-time RRAC Coach of the Year honoree (2015, 2018), Kling led the Saints to a pair of RRAC regular-season titles and the league's postseason crown in 2014, when OLLU advanced to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

In his final season at OLLU, Kling coached the Saints to a share of the RRAC regular-season crown and a runner-up finish at the conference tournament. His squad was honored with the NAIA Scholar Team award and was recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) with a Team Academic Award, both for the fourth consecutive season. Kling mentored three NFCA All-Region performers in his final season with the Saints and had six student-athletes crowned NFCA All-Ameica Scholar Athletes this past spring.

Prior to his tenure with the Saints, Kling was as assistant softball coach at St. Mary's University for six seasons, serving as a full-time assistant from 2007-10. The Rattlers advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament five times during his six seasons with the squad, winning a regional championship in 2005. Kling also served as the head cross country coach while at St. Mary's. His cross country program held the highest grade point average of all Rattler teams.

Kling graduated cum laude from the University of the Incarnate Word in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He married Sonya Reyes Wright in August of 2014.  They have five children, Kym, Kat, Dusty, Jacob and Gabby.