AUSTIN, Texas -- Concordia University Texas Athletics Director Dan Huntley announced today that #Denise Lira# has been hired as the Tornados head softball coach.  Lira replaces #Stan Warren#, who resigned May 5 after a four-year stint as the head coach at Concordia.

"We are proud to have Denise join our University," Huntley said.  "She has been an important part of the success of UMHB softball for the past nine years.  Denise has a thorough understanding of the American Southwest Conference as well as Texas High School softball.  We expect her to continue the recent success of our program and know that she will be a great mentor for our student-athletes."

"Denise has proven to be a great leader and recruiter," Huntley added.  "She has put in a lot of time learning to be a great NCAA Division III coach.  She understands Division III athletics from the student-athlete, student assistant and full-time assistant points of view.  We expect her to shine as a head coach at Concordia."

Lira comes to Concordia after spending the last nine seasons at ASC West Division foe Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton.  Lira helped lead the Lady Cru to seven ASC tournaments, three West Division titles and one NCAA Regional tournament appearance.

Lira has served as the Lady Cru assistant coach for the past five seasons.  In 2008, Lira and the rest of the Lady Cru coaching staff was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Regional Coaching Staff of the Year after advancing to the NCAA Regional Tournament.  The Lady Cru coaches were again honored in 2010 after earning the ASC West Division Coaching Staff of the Year, following their third division title in four years. 

Prior to Lira becoming full-time at UMHB she spent two seasons as a student assistant coach.  Lira also played two seasons for the Lady Cru, earning All-West Division in both seasons.  Her collegiate career began at Ranger Junior College before transferring to Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Lira has helped the Lady Cru to a total of seven ASC tournament berths over the last eight seasons, three of which included divisional titles (2007, 2008, 2010). 

Lira earned a bachelor of science degree from UMHB in 2004.  She went on to earn a master of science degree in 2008, also from UMHB.