Oct. 8, 2009

Wright State softball head coach Linda Garza has announced the addition of Annie Voyles as an assistant coach to the program. Her duties will include working with the pitchers, recruiting and assisting in all aspects of the game.

"Coach Voyles will be a great addition to our program," said Garza. "Her passion for the sport is evident and her desire to excel in this profession will assist in her development as a coach. She has been a part of a successful college program and has also served as a Divsion I assistant coach. I look forward to working with Coach Voyles and having her assist in accomplishing our goals as a program."

Voyles joins the Raider staff after two seasons as the pitching coach at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. During the 2009 campaign, the Blue Hose recorded four shutouts, including a 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb in team first-ever Big South Conference game. The staff led the conference in opposing batting average (.259), batters struck-out looking (33) and fewest home runs allowed (11). Freshman Leslie Hensley gained Big South Conference Player of the Week honors on February 24th as she finished 10-9 on the season with a 3.33 earned run average.

During Presbyterian's inaugural season at the Division I level in 2008, she was involved in all aspects of the program, including helping the Blue Hose establish school records for home runs (45) and hitting percentage (.426).

Along with her duties on the field, Voyles assisted in areas such as recruiting, coordinating travel and overseeing the travel budget and designing and maintaining the team's strength and conditioning program.

"I am excited and honored to be at Wright State," said Voyles. "I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with an extremely talented group of student-athletes and help them reach new heights in their careers both on and off the field."

Voyles came to Presbyterian after completing an impressive collegiate career at Florida Atlantic University where she played for softball pitching legend and Hall of Fame coach Joan Joyce. A catcher for the Owls, Voyles helped lead FAU to an Atlantic Sun Conference title in 2006 and a second-place finish in the Gainesville regional tournament. In 2007, Voyles drove in the winning run as Florida Atlantic won the Sun Belt Conference championship.

Voyles transferred to FAU after an extremely successful stint at Florida Gulf Coast University. The conference Freshman of the Year and all-conference utility player in 2004, Voyles was 13-3 with an ERA of 1.58 in her freshman pitching campaign with FGCU. The Eagles finished 41-13-1 in 2004, including a 30-1-1 stretch during the middle of the season. After sustaining an elbow injury that sidelined her during nearly the entire 2005 season, Voyles was converted from a pitcher into a catcher.

Off the field at Florida Atlantic, Voyles was active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee there and acted as chairperson for community service projects, heading multiple volunteer activities in the area. She also organized the inaugural "Strike-Out Cancer" weekend and helped raise over $1800 for the American Cancer Society. Voyles received the "Owl-Standing Spirit" award in 2006 and "Community Service" award in 2007 while also being nominated for Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

A native of Bronson, Florida, Voyles was a four-time all-state selection at Trenton High School. She was also named a Wendy's High School Heisman Nominee, Navy Scholar Athlete, and Marine Distinguished Athlete of the Year while graduating in the top 10 of her class.

Voyles earned a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies arts and humanities with a focus in communications from Florida Atlantic in 2007 and received her master's degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy in the spring of 2009, graduating with honors.

Wright State, which finished 34-21 in 2009 to record its second-most wins ever in a season, returns all 10 starters and 14 letterwinners in 2010. The Raiders open the campaign at the KSU Classic in Woodstock, Georgia, February 13-14, taking on Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Indiana and North Dakota State.