DURANGO, Colorado — Fort Lewis College Athletics is excited to announce the hiring of Ashley Reeves as the next Head Softball Coach, effective Monday, January 6.

Reeves becomes the seventh head coach in the program's history and comes to Durango after seven successful years of coaching experience at Abilene Christian University; a former NCAA Division II program that transitioned to the NCAA Division I level during her tenure.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to lead the FLC softball program and create a culture that strives for greatness," Reeves said. "I am looking forward to building relationships with the community among our program and the college. This is something I've always wanted and I'm grateful for the opportunity to live this out with my family alongside me. Durango is a beautiful place and it's an incredible honor to be a part of Fort Lewis College. I want to thank Brandon Leimbach for trusting me to lead the softball program."

Reeves, a former NCAA Division I standout as a student-athlete at Texas Tech University, began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Abilene Christian in 2011-2012. She returned to the club in the summer of 2014 before receiving her promotion to associate head coach in August of 2016.

As a student-athlete, Reeves was a four-year starter for the Red Raiders as a center fielder while earning her bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. She earned Second-Team All-Big XII in 2006 and was a First-Team All-Big XII selection in 2004 and 2007.

In her 2007 season, Reeves hit .379 with one home run, 15 RBI and stole 24 bases en route to also being named a NFCA All-Region player.

"It is a tremendous day for Skyhawks Athletics to welcome Ashley Reeves as our new head softball coach," said Fort Lewis College Director of Athletics, Brandon Leimbach. "As an accomplished player and coach, she will be a great role model for our women both on and off the field. I can't wait for her to get started and put her vision for success into action."

Reeves' coaching responsibilities at Abilene Christian included working with base runners, assisting with hitters, coaching outfielders, travel planning and recruiting. She also directed camps during the summer and winter breaks.

In her first season at ACU, she helped guide the team to a 28-27 record and fifth-place finish in the Lone Star Conference South Division. The Wildcats finished 30-18 the following season and qualified for the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament.

After transitioning to NCAA Division I in 2014, Reeves helped ACU to its best season to date as a DI program in 2017 as the team won 33 games and placed second in the Southland Conference at 20-7.

Prior to her time at ACU, Reeves spent three seasons as the head softball coach at Harding Academy in Searcy, Arkansas where she also served as an assistant volleyball and basketball coach.

Reeves will take over a Skyhawks program that graduated just one senior from the 2019 team in Angelique Elemen, the program's all-time leader in hits, RBIs, doubles, total bases and home runs. Elemen will remain on staff as Reeves' assistant coach as FLC prepares for the 2020 season, set to get underway February 6-8 at the Courtyard Classic in St. George, Utah.