Worley Barker Steps Down As Head Softball Coach

Texas Southern University head softball coach Worley Barker has officially resigned from his position, TSU Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Kevin Granger announced today.

“I would like to thank Coach Barker for his hard work, loyalty and dedication he put forth in building the TSU softball program and his love for Texas Southern University as a whole,” said Granger. “What Coach Barker has accomplished at TSU over the past 15 years has been unparalleled in terms of what has taken place on and off the diamond. TSU softball ranks as one of the top programs in the SWAC, region and state of Texas as that can all be attributed to him. He genuinely cared for his student-athletes and put them in position to be successful in life once they graduated from TSU. You can’t ask for anything else from a head coach as the bar has been set. I wish Coach Barker nothing but success in his next endeavor.”

Barker has been one of the most successful head coaches in Southwestern Athletic Conference history since assuming the reigns in 2005. The Houston native has won 10 consecutive SWAC Western Division Championships and has led TSU to three NCAA Regional appearances and three SWAC Titles. He has won a total of 336 games and won 20-plus games for 10 consecutive seasons, including a 33-win season in 2013.

Academically, the softball program has ranked as one of the top teams at TSU as the program recently tied for its highest multi-year APR score in program history with a 978.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to have had the opportunity to mentor and coach the talented young athletes who have been a part of the TSU softball program over the past 15 years,” said Barker. “It has truly been an honor and I am proud to have had the opportunity to coach this current group of young ladies. I hate that I will not be a part of what we started last season, but I know the program will be in great hands.”

Assistant coach Raven Rodriguez has been named interim head coach for the 2021 season.