Let's call it what it is. UIC softball has been atrocious over the last 4 seasons. They are 50-156 in that time. My daughter played in the MVC and just finished. UIC softball was not well-regarded. Last year when my daughter's team came to UIC, UIC literally only had 12 players available on the field. It was pretty shocking to see a D1 team with so few players. (And for some reason UIC had focused and continued to recruit more players from California and Texas.) With "real" coaches and an any sort of AD commitment behind the program, it really shouldn't be that hard to recruit from the Chicago metro area and Midwest with the wealth of players and talent. I know of many potential recruits avoiding UIC the last few years. Hopefully that changes now. The weather is always iffy in Chicago during the season, but wow, the view from the field is exceptional. Hopefully these new coaches lead to better recruiting and a more competitive team. I still have doubts. And hopefully Valparaiso also starts to turn their program around...