Star sitdown: Arizona's Caitlin Lowe on standout freshmen, Pac-12 legacy, UA softball 50th year, more

On the morning before Arizona softball’s 2024 opening weekend, UA coach Caitlin Lowe looked at ease.

So much so that she was laughing, telling stories and sharing all the important pieces of memorabilia in her office.

It was like a walk down memory lane from her Olympic and Arizona jerseys framed and hanging on the walls to the softball from her first game as coach at the storied program. She even shared the family photos that her husband, Paul Nagy, gives her.

There was no indication that she was concerned about one of her top freshmen, pitcher Ryan Maddox, who was undergoing foot surgery that very day. The highly anticipated debut of the No. 6 recruit in the class would have to wait until next season.

But Lowe and the Wildcats otherwise don’t have plans to push off expectations for the 2024 season. A year after a rare NCAA Tournament miss for the long-time national power Wildcats, Lowe shared with the Star how what the Wildcats went through a year ago will only help them this season. She also spoke on her strong freshman class, what makes the Pac-12 special and the 50th anniversary of the UA softball program.

Here’s part of Lowe’s recent conversation with the Star, just ahead of the Wildcats kicking off their season 5-0 to in the Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium.

On freshmen who stand out in 2024:Caitlin Lowe: “Regan Shockey has been one that I think not just physically, but she’s been able to use her voice more as of late and always has great things to say. She does a great job in her own leadership role in the outfield and even offensively. She has been someone that has been a steady force at practice every single day. And that’s really what you look for. When freshmen come into your program, do they show up consistently every single day? Do you know what you’re going to get when you put them into the lineup? Do you know what you’re going to get at practice every day? I’m pretty confident that I know what Regan brings to the table every single day.

“I do have quite a few freshmen though, that I’m excited about. Emily Schepp has gotten consistently better and better. Brooke Mannon on the mound — she’s just a complete competitor and her being able to show up consistently every day for us is going to be really important.

“They are ready for the moment. As always (with) freshmen, it’s about slowing the game down at the beginning of the season when you’re a little bit amped up and being able to stay just even keeled and show up in that same way every day.”

On moving forward from former UA pitching coach, circle legend Taryne Mowatt-McKinney:CL: “That was a tough decision. At the end of the day, I wish her the best. I think she’s going to do great things but in in our team dynamic, it was the necessary move I think to give (our pitchers) something new and fresh and just a different attack plan for how we’re going to go at people.”

On evaluating last season:CL: “I think that was almost like a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis of where we’re at and where we want to go. That timeline for me and really, more so than the staff adjustments, (is) when I’m having a conversation with players, which is like what we saw from them, what we want to see from them in the future. All that stuff happens, and I think then, the summer becomes, ‘OK, what are you going to do with that information?’

“(They had a mentality of) just go about my business kind of way, very serious and understanding that there was work to be done and we need to get better and not just the circle — in all sides.”

On hiring new assistant coaches from outside the Arizona family:CL: “What was exciting for me is to see how other people were successful in doing it. I think that it’s important for me personally, to grow as a coach, is to not just do things how we’ve always done things but bring in new fresh perspectives. That’s what I love about being able to sit in here in the office as a group of four and really pick each other’s brains. I’ll even throw Danny (Martinez, the team’s director of softball operations who has ) in there some sometimes. He’s giving his opinions, and I couldn’t be happier to have him, by the way. That was the easiest hire that I’ve probably ever made.

“Just wanting to learn and grow and not be satisfied with any area of our game. I’ve been very excited with what they brought to the table. (Christian Conrad and Josh Bloomer) are just extreme workers and in here all the time figuring out how to get us better. … It’s very much so collaborative effort. That, to me, is what I love about this game. I love coming in, talking the game, hearing different perspectives and then growing from each one of those.”

On the Pac-12’s hand in growing the sport:CL:“I look at it as the foundation of college softball, (this is) where it started. College softball took off from our conference being so dominant and legends that went to Arizona, went to UCLA. When I was in travel ball, I am really dating myself, I’m 15, 16, and everybody is finding a place within the Pac-12. That’s where they wanted to go.

“What I come back to (is) I grew up watching Dot Richardson and I grew up watching Allison McCutcheon, and obviously Jennie Finch for a lot of people and just the prestige surrounding it.”

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On Arizona softball coaching legend Mike Candrea as the school’s interim AD:“When people talk about him as a coach, they talk about how great he was with people. That’s the biggest thing in this role right now is he’s trying to get a bunch of people on the same page and moving in the same direction. There’s no one better in sports, maybe, I was going to say Tucson or this department, (who) has that level of respect from everybody he’s crossed paths with. People trust him.

“He’s known this place from when we had very small budgets until now and to me that what better person to provide advice but also a sense of calm in this time that we’re dealing with right now. I don’t think anybody even flinched when that was announced. It was just like, ‘Oh, yeah, he’s got it and we’re moving forward.’ That just says a lot about him and what he brings to the table.”

On celebrating 50 years of UA softball:CL: “We have video that connects the past and the present. When you look at that now it just gives you chills — they did it before me, they laid the groundwork and it’s my responsibility, but also my honor to carry on that tradition. It doesn’t feel daunting, it feels empowering. I think that’s the difference — and that’s what we wanted to get to — is not feeling like the expectation was too much. It’s something that’s just an honor to be a part of, and for people to look at you that way. I think the connection from the alumni to the player has really done that for them. I’m excited. I think now they’ll be able to speak about the past a little bit more, which will be cool, and really just come from a different place than they have before of really feeling that attachment and love for the school as it is now but as it was before, as well.”