By Holli Horton, October 2008
Photo By Heather Strange
Dirt. It’s not something the average coach would have her players focus on. But for Jennifer Rocha, University of Florida’s assistant softball coach, dirt is exactly what helped her focus when she was a player 13 years ago. Back then, she led her team to win the California State Championship at Long Beach City College, which ultimately earned her All-American honors.
Not surprisingly, it would be Rocha who years later would help bring All-American honors to one of UF’s own players for the first time in its history (Stacey Nelson, who as a sophomore in 2007 took home the honors). How did Rocha do it? By teaching the players to focus on, what else? The dirt. Just like she did.
Although Rocha kicked the dirt on the mound to help her focus, Nelson, instead, grabs it and lets it fall through her fingers. Either way, Rocha said, it’s a secret that helps the players stay grounded.
Rocha helped bring the Gators to the College World Series for the first time in June, where the team lost 1-0 in nine innings to Texas A&M in the semifinal. “It was a bittersweet ending for our program,” Rocha said. “We were happy to reach our goal of the Women’s College World Series but being one game away from a chance to win a National Championship is still tough to swallow. It has certainly given us something to continue to work toward next year.”