The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Ingram Announces Promotion Of Townsend
8/7/2017 9:10:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram has announced the promotion of head softball coach Marla Townsend as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives and Engagement.
"Marla has been an instrumental figure at UAB for almost two decades and her new role will enhance our Department of Athletics," Ingram said. "The passion she has demonstrated as our head softball coach has been unmatched and we look forward to that energy and enthusiasm as a member of Senior Staff."
Former player and current assistant coach Amanda Ellis will serve as the interim head coach for the upcoming 2017-18 season.
"This is an incredible opportunity to work with all of the athletic programs here at UAB," Townsend said. "Softball will always be near and dear to my heart but I am excited for this new role and for the bright future we have here at UAB.
"Amanda was a player here and came back as an assistant coach so she knows our core values and I know she will continue to build upon the foundation of the softball program and take it to new heights."
Townsend went 532-507 in 18 seasons as the UAB softball coach with appearances in five straight NCAA Tournaments from 2010-14. The only head coach in Blazer softball history, she led UAB to its first NCAA Regional title in 2013 after upsetting fifth-seeded UCLA.
UAB went 40-19 on its way to winning the Conference USA regular season championship under her guidance in 2013. Townsend has named the Conference USA Coach of the Year three times in 2002, 2006 and 2013.
In 2008 she was inducted into the Alabama Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame.
Hired by coach Gene Bartow in 1998, Townsend had nine 30 plus win seasons with six straight-seasons of 30 or more wins from 2010-15.
A graduate of Pinson Valley High School in 1982, she earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 1986. Townsend earned a master's degree from UAB in 1991. Townsend also earned an Education Specialist Degree from Montevallo in 1998. She has one daughter, Maia, and one son, Luke.
Ellis came to UAB when the program was just in its second season in 2001. She earned numerous awards both on and off the field. Ellis was named to the All-Conference USA Freshman Team and in 2002 and 2003 made the Dean's List. In 2003 and 2004 Ellis made the Athletic Director's Honor Roll while also earning the Most Valuable Scholar All-American in 2003.
She returned to UAB in 2014 after a successful stint as a high school softball coach at Moody High School where, she led the Blue Devils to five-straight area titles from 2009-13. She guided Moody to a runner-up finish in the state championship in 2011, a third-place finish in 2009 and a fifth-place finish in 2010.
As a member of the UAB staff in 2014, she helped guide the Blazers to a 32-19 record and their fifth-straight NCAA Tournament.
Ellis served as a student assistant in 2005 and earned her bachelor's degree in physical education. She then earned a master's degree in physical education in 2009 at UAB.
"This is a surreal moment for me," Ellis said. "I've come full circle and I don't think it has really hit me yet. I love UAB and it is both an honor and a dream come true to lead the UAB softball program."
