Traci Fuller named new skipper of Lower Columbia Softball

OSU alum to coach LCC fastpitch team

By Rick McCorkle / The Daily News The Daily News Online | Posted: Friday, August 19, 2011 6:40 pm
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A former Oregon State University standout who coached Vancouver's Skyview High to the Class 4A Softball State Championships semifinals has agreed to take charge of the Lower Columbia College softball team.

Traci (Feldt) Fuller takes over the Lady Devils' program following the retirement of longtime coach Tim Mackin in May.

"We are thrilled that Traci has accepted the challenge to take over our softball powerhouse," LCC athletic director Kirc Roland said in a college press release. "Traci is looking to continue the championship-caliber expectations that future NWAACC Hall-of-Famer Tim Mackin built here at LCC."

Roland noted Fuller was among five finalists vying to lead the 10-time NWAACC champion Lady Devils. In addition to her coaching duties, Fuller, who currently manages the Hazel Dell Brew Pub, will work full-time as an educational planner at the college.

"We got lucky," he said. "We had some great candidates, but she came into her interview well-prepared and was impressive. We're hoping she will get the program back to the level where Coach Mackin had it in the past."

A 1998 Prairie High graduate, Fuller played four seasons at OSU and served one campaign as an undergraduate assistant. She later served two seasons as an assistant coach to her sister, Shawna Feldt, at Fort Vancouver High, and was an assistant coach for parts of two seasons at Portland State University before landing at Skyview High in 2008. The 30-year-old Feldt is married and has a 1 1/2 year old son, Zack.

"This a great opportunity for me to coach a good program which is at the top of the NWAACC," Fuller said. "I love coaching at Skyview and I wasn't seeking a new job, but Kirc Roland asked if I would apply. I gave it some thought and went for it."

Fuller brings a wealth of softball knowledge to the Lady Devils.

"I expect my players to be well-disciplined, dedicated and committed to the team," she said. "I want them to understand that no individual is bigger than the team, and I want to teach and help them to be champions on and off the field."

With a combination of eight returning players and incoming freshmen, Fuller has to hit the ground running in her quest to fill out her roster for the upcoming season.

"I have plenty of scholarships and I'm looking for players who are talented enough to compete and need somewhere to go," she said. "I haven't met any of the returning players yet, but I coached against several of them in the Greater St. Helens League and have seen what they can do."

Fuller hopes her network of contacts, including stepdad Dale Ogden (longtime Vancouver area coach), sister Shawna Feldt (Lewis and Clark College softball coach) and her peers coaching in the Greater St. Helens League will land her some players.

"Shawna's program doesn't offer athletic scholarships at Lewis and Clark," she said. "It's possible we can get a pipeline going back and forth between her team and the Lady Devils."

Fuller also admits she has some huge shoes to fill in replacing Mackin, who amassed a 678-165 record with 10 conference titles in 19 seasons at LCC. He retired as the winningest softball coach in conference history, and the winningest coach in all sports at LCC.

"I want to talk with Coach Mackin," she said. "It's going to be a challenge to continue his legacy. He had an enormous amount of success here, and I hope to follow in his footsteps and continue the tradition."