Head Coach Leslie Messina

Leslie Messina enters her fourth season as head coach of the Texarkana College Bulldogs. Since Coach Messina came to TC in the fall of 2003, the Bulldogs have won three conference championships, two regional championships, and the team’s first two appearances at the NJCAA National Tournament.

During her career at TC, Coach Messina has coached six All-Americans, eight NFCA All-Midwest Region honorees, three Region XIV Players of the Year, and 22 All-Region selections. The 2007 season proved to be the most successful in Bulldog Softball history which include a repeat as Region XIV East Conference Champions, Region XIV Champions and a top ten finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. Coach Messina was also selected the Region XIV Coach of the Year and the National Fastpitch Coaches Assosciation NJCAA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Prior to becoming head coach, Coach Messina served as the assistant coach for the Bulldogs’ 2004 Region Championship team.

Coach Messina was a catcher and designated hitter for the University of Evansville (Indiana) Purple Aces. While in Evansville, she worked for two years as a hitting and catching instructor for Diamond Sports Academy. After graduating cum laude in 1999 with majors in exercise science and sports medicine, she earned her master’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in coaching from Georgia Southern University. While she was at GSU, she served on the coaching staffs of the university’s Division I softball team and nationally ranked Division II Armstrong Atlantic State University. She designed Armstrong Atlantic’s weight training program and coached catchers and outfielders. During her tenure at Armstrong, the Pirates had the highest fielding percentage in the nation and finished the year at No. 21 in the Division II polls.

Coach Messina brings other distinctive credentials to her position with the Bulldogs. She has earned the National Fastpitch Coaches Association designation of One-Star Master Coach. Since 1999 she has been certified as a strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Assistant Coach Amanda Hibbs

Amanda Hibbs is beginning her first year as assistant coach for the Bulldogs. Coach Hibbs played one year at Odessa College, before transferring to Carl Albert State College where she earned her Associate of Science degree. Hibbs then transferred to The University of Texas at Tyler where she was an All-Conference pitcher for the Patriots. Hibbs finished her playing career at Cameron University where she helped the Aggies to their second-ever appearance in the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

Prior to coming to TC, Hibbs served 2 years as an assistant for the Texas Stix 18 & under Program out of Austin, Texas. Coach Hibbs will receive her Bachelors Degree from Texas A&M-Texarkana in 2009. She is a native of Elgin, Texas.

Assistant Coach Liz Hendricks

Liz Hendricks is beginning her first year as assistant coach for the Bulldogs. Coach Liz played for Texarkana College from 2005-2006. She was a member of the 2006 Regional Champion Bulldog softball team and played first base for TC.

Prior to TC, Coach Liz played at Arkansas High School where she lettered all fours years and was selected to the All-Conference team her Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. Since her last year of playing ball at TC, she has also been very active with the TC program by helping out in camps and other activities. She also has done individual help with different softball programs around the area. Coach Liz is a native of Texarkana, Arkansas.