I think some people on these boards are either new, or are revisionists. The birth and growth of Virginia Tech softball didn't start when Pete was hired. It was birthed in 1996 with club players and little to no equipment. That manifested itself into a College World Series appearance, multiple conference championships (which this staff has produced zero tournament titles), multiple All-Americans, and multiple accolades for the staff that oversees it (a little context below for Coach Thomas who left the cupboard full). My comments are in no way intended to deflect from the accomplishments of Coach Pete. The results are amazing. That said, he has been able to do so by utilizing a state of the art indoor facility designed by Coach Thomas that he was never able to utilize. Bottom line: Enjoy current success, but don't be so quick to forget how this program got here. Resources are vastly different. I don't believe Coach Thomas lost any "fire", as was stated in Whit's quote. What he needed was an influx of administrative support to sustain and grow an already viable product that was literally built out of the dirt they play on. Have some perspective. In all honesty Coach Thomas should be in the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame. Tell me I'm wrong. 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year 2007, 2008, 2012 & 2013 NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year 1999 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008 & 2012 VaSID State Coach of the Year