Fort Hays State softball coach Julie LeMaire resigned from her position as head softball coach at Fort Hays State University to become the new head coach at Emporia State University. LeMaire was announced as the new head coach at ESU on Monday, June 20, succeeding Kristi Bredbenner who took the head coaching position at Wichita State University a couple of weeks ago.
 
In three seasons at Fort Hays State, LeMaire guided the Tigers to a combined record of 92-76, producing the second-most wins of any coach in the program’s history. She led the Tigers to 30 or more wins in all three of her seasons at the helm. She also finishes with the second-best win percentage in the program’s NCAA Division II history (.548). LeMaire guided the Tigers to their first MIAA Championship Tournament Finals appearance in 2011, where they fell to Nebraska-Omaha.

Major renovations got underway at FHSU Gross Memorial Coliseum June 15.  The basketball floor will be completely replaced with a new floor that’s more forgiving to athletes.  The old floor has no cushion underneath it; it was placed on top of the existing tartan surface creating a very firm playing surface. 

The new wood floor will be have a modern playing surface with a cushioning layer underneath it, causing a slight  “springboard” effect when athletes run on it and thus reducing wear and tear on their bodies.