Texas softball is making noise in the offseason with its new portal grabs and hiring decisions.
On June 18, Texas Athletics announced that Rick Fremin, the head coach of the Southeastern Louisiana Lions, will be joining head coach Mike White’s staff as associate head coach for the 2027 season.
Fremin’s 11-year stint as the Lions’ head coach was worthwhile, as he compiled a final record of 348-197 and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances beginning in 2024. Along with being named Louisiana Head Coach of the Year three years in a row, Fremin’s passion for softball is reflected in the success of his players and team.
“Our team is going to play hard every time they take the field, and that’s what’s important to me and trying to do it the right way,” Fremin told Eric Lopez on the In The Circle SB YouTube channel on May 11.
In the 2026 season, Southeastern Louisiana boasted a 46-16 record, including 24 conference wins. The Lions’ season ended at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, where they were eliminated after two losses to Belmont and USC Upstate.
White’s decision to hire Fremin comes as both Longhorn associate head coaches of the 2026 season leave the program. Ehren Earleywine accepted a job as the associate head coach for the Tennessee Volunteers and Kristen Zaleski was hired to head the Utah State softball program.
Texas isn’t just making moves on the coaching side of the program. The Longhorns have signed two athletes: Isa Torres, incoming Florida State senior infielder, and Samantha Lincoln, incoming Texas Tech junior pitcher.
Expectations are high for Torres, a Georgetown High School graduate and D1 Softball’s National Player of the Year. In her third year at Florida State, Torres racked up an impressive .530 ERA, a program record, and scored 16 home runs plus 56 RBIs.
Torres spent most of her time playing shortstop, but with the departure of infielder Leighann Goode to the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, Torres may find her new home in the infield at second base.
Texas’ pitching staff will be well equipped with the addition of Lincoln to the rotation. She joins incoming junior Brenlee Gonzales as the only two lefties on the roster.
The Longhorns are familiar with Lincoln. In the first game of the Women’s College World Series Final, Lincoln entered the circle with the Red Raiders trailing 5-1. Lincoln couldn’t fully hold off the Longhorns, giving up two earned runs and four hits. In 66 pitches, however, Lincoln delivered one strikeout and only allowed two walks in an attempt to keep Texas Tech in striking distance.
New additions don’t come without departures. Last December, it was announced that redshirt freshman pitcher Sophia Bordi was joining the Texas roster after leaving the University of Oklahoma for personal reasons. Because of the mid-year transfer, Bordi was ineligible to play during the 2026 season.
Following the transfer announcement, Bordi released a statement in a now-deleted post on X about her decision to leave and the subsequent online attacks she was subjected to.
“I’ve received all types of messages from racist remarks to wishing ill on my life and wellbeing,” Bordi wrote. “My decision to enter the transfer portal has little to do with that and was mainly dictated by my experience at my previous school. It’s not just about softball.”
Bordi has occupied a spot on two different rosters and yet still hasn’t thrown a pitch. She is back in the transfer portal for the second time.
The transfer portal officially closed Monday, signaling the beginning of a new journey for the Longhorns as they pursue a third consecutive national championship.
