Rich Wieligman was named the fifth UT Dallas head softball coach prior to the 2016 season and in just two seasons has taken the Comets to uncharted territory.
In his two seasons with the program, Wieligman has led UTD to a 61-30 (.670) overall record and a 42-18 (.700) mark in ASC play, winning the squad’s first-ever ASC title in 2017 along with the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. He has now served as a collegiate head coach for 11 seasons, compiling a 336-257 (.567) career record.
Since taking control of the team, he has coached the program’s first All-American and mentored four All-Region selections and 11 All-ASC performers. He was named the ASC’s Coach of the Year in 2017 after guiding the Comets to best record in school history at 36-10.
- Career Record (2007-17, 11 seasons) --- 336-257
- UTD Record (2016-17, 2 seasons) --- 61-30 (42-18 ASC)
- ASC Championships: 1 (2017)
- ASC Tournament Appearances: 2 (2016, 2017)
- NCAA D-III Tournament Appearances: 1 (2017)
A native of Lee's Summit, Mo., Wieligman took over the Comet program after serving as the head coach at Oklahoma State for nine seasons (2007-15). While with OSU, Wieligman led the Cowgirls to three NCAA Division I National Tournament appearances, including a trip to the 2011 Women's College World Series. Over those nine seasons, Wieligman boasted a 275-227 record while coaching 24 all-conference selections, 19 all-region players and one All-American. In addition, he mentored 51 academic all-conference players and two Academic All-Americans.
Wieligman played baseball collegiately at Lubbock Christian College (now University), earning his bachelor's degree in education in 1985, and later served as assistant softball coach at Baylor (1998-2000), Texas Tech (2000-02) and Texas A&M (2002-06). While at LCC, Wieligman helped the Chaparrals to an NAIA National Championship in 1983 and was named an NAIA All-American in 1984. Upon graduation, he spent four years in the farm system of the Detroit Tigers as a first baseman/outfielder, reaching the AAA level. Wieligman would later play in both Japan and the Dominican Republic before starting his coaching career.
Wieligman began his coaching career as an assistant baseball coach at his alma mater before taking over as head baseball coach at Lubbock Christian High School. After working with the Boys & Girls Club of Midland, he began his softball coaching career as the head coach at Midland High School in 1993 before moving to the collegiate ranks. After serving as recruiting coordinator and hitting coach for Baylor, he made his first NCAA appearance in 2001 while at Texas Tech and then helped coach Texas A&M to four straight national tournament appearances from 2003-06, including a trip to the super regionals in 2005. In 2005, Texas A&M led NCAA D-I in team batting average.
