SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State University softball assistant coach Cat Osterman has stepped away from the program to pursue future personal endeavors, head coach Ricci Woodard announced Monday morning.

"We wish Cat the best in her future endeavors as well as the Olympics," Woodard said. "She's been a great addition to our Bobcat Family, and we are going to miss her tremendously."

"My time at Texas State was unbelievable and working with Coach Woodard has been an absolute privilege; I don't know if any boss from here on out can measure up to her," Osterman said. "I got to witness the creation of a Sun Belt championship and work with All-American Randi Rupp, which are two highlights I'll take away from my time there.

"But, more than anything during my six years at Texas State, I felt like I became part of a family. It was great and really hard to step away from that. I look back with nothing but good memories. Texas State has been everything I thought it would have been when I took the job and so much more."

Osterman, a former three-time national player of the year, four-time All-American and two-time Olympic medalist, arrived in San Marcos prior to the 2015 season following a three-season stint as an assistant coach at St. Edwards University.

In her six seasons on the coaching staff, Osterman, who was named the Big 12 Conference Female Athlete of the Year on three separate occasions during her collegiate career, helped the Texas State pitching staff to a collective 2.45 earned run average (ERA) in 2,079.2 innings pitched. At the conclusion of three different seasons, the Bobcat pitching staff had a sub-2.00 ERA: 1.72 (2017), 1.81 (2018) and 1.59 (2020*).

Texas State earned three NCAA Regional berths (2016, 2017 and 2018) as well as the 2018 Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships with Osterman on the coaching staff. 

Osterman was instrumental in coaching former Texas State right-handed pitcher Randi Rupp throughout her four-year career. During her time as a Bobcat, Rupp (2015-18) was a four-time All-Sun Belt Conference first-team selection, four-time NFCA All-Central Regional selection, two-time Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year and two-time NFCA All-American. Additionally, Rupp graduated as the program's leader in career strikeouts (1,270), career wins (110) and only player in Texas State history to throw multiple perfect games.

"When Cat came in, our mission was to get to the top of the Sun Belt Conference," Woodard said. "If you want to be a winner, then you have to surround yourself with winners and there's nobody better at that — in my mind — than Cat Osterman."
*The Texas State pitching staff allowed only 36 earned runs in 158.1 innings pitched, before the remainder of the 2020 NCAA Division I softball season was cancelled on March 12, 2020 by the NCAA due to the coronavirus pandemic.