Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Brooke Goad enters into her fourth year as an assistant coach for the Mulerider Softball program after making the transition to the coaching ranks at SAU after a historic record-breaking career as a player for the Muleriders.
 
A native of Waxahachie, Texas, Goad developed into the most prolific power hitter not only in SAU history, but in NCAA Division II lore as well. For her career, Goad hit .365 (245-for-671) with 262 runs scored, 51 doubles, two triples, 90 home runs, 213 RBIs and 218 walks. Additionally, she posted a .849 career slugging percentage and boasted a .534 on-base percentage.
 
A three-time All-America honoree for her unparalleled offensive production, Goad’s 90 home runs over the course of her career are a NCAA Division II All-Time record. In fact, Goad’s career home run total is tied for the third-most all-time, regardless of division.
 
As the nation’s most potent power bat in recent memory, Goad also became a hitter not many opposing pitchers wanted to face and her walk totals reflected that sentiment. With 218 career walks and nearly half of those coming in her senior season, Goad is also currently the DII All-Time leader in walks.
 
In her true freshman campaign in 2014, Goad burst onto the scene with 15 home runs in just 36 games. Unfortunately, that sensational rookie season was cut short at 36 games as Goad suffered the first of what would be three significant knee injuries. Goad battled back from that initial injury to play the beginning of her sophomore season in 2015. Through just nine games that year, Goad had two more home runs, but like her freshman season, Goad missed the remainder of the year with a knee injury.
 
After gaining a medical redshirt for the 2015 season, Goad came back healthy in 2016 and as a redshirt sophomore helped lead the Muleriders to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship for the first time in program history. Individually, Goad earned her first All-America plaudit as she batted .364 that year and hit a SAU and Great American Conference (GAC) single-season record 23 home runs. Goad then followed that up in 2017 with an 18 home run campaign and was once more an All-American.
 
While her career had already achieved elite status, Goad found a way to elevate it even more her senior year as she had one of the best offensive seasons ever in softball. That year, Goad hit .393 (68-for-173) with 80 runs scored, eight doubles, 32 home runs 72 RBIs and 91 walks. A consensus first-team All-America selection, Goad set DII single-season records for home runs and walks. Her production at the plate helped lead the Muleriders back to the NCAA DII Softball Championship for the second time in three years.
 
The Female Athlete of the Year overall in the GAC in 2017-18, Goad’s senior season saw her set nine single-season program hitting records, including slugging percentage, on-base percentage, games played, runs scored, RBI, home runs, total bases, walks, and intentional walks. That output helped her finish her career as the sole owner of nine career program hitting records.