TCC hires softball and cross-country coaches

Special to the Outlook 

Tallahassee Community College has filled two coaching positions that became vacant with the resignations of Patti Townsend and Gary Droze within the last two months.

 Athletics Director Chuck Moore announced that Brynn Baca is the new softball coach, replacing Townsend. Andy Merrill was hired as the head women’s cross country. He replaces Droze, who was the programs first track coach.

Baca becomes the fourth head coach in program history and takes over for Townsend stepped down after 20 years following the 2023 season.

“We are excited to start this new chapter for TCC softball, and I believe Coach Baca has all of the tools to lead this program and our student-athletes, while competing for championships,” Moore said.

Baca most recently served as an assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin, where she primarily worked with the catchers and infielders, as well as assisting the pitching staff.

“I’m excited for this opportunity,” Baca said. “This is an incredibly competitive conference, and I’m looking forward to bringing some hardworking student-athletes to campus and getting started at building our program. The goal is to win championships and get them to the next level.”

Baca also understands the importance of her student-athletes’ off-the-field efforts.

“This program has a strong history of getting our student-athletes to graduate,” Baca said. “Our goal as coaches is to provide them a pathway to get a degree, and teach them how to be strong members of the community. Coach Townsend did an amazing job before me, and I hope to continue building upon that.”

Before joining the staff at Stephen F. Austin, Baca served as a graduate assistant at Southern Arkansas University while working towards a master’s degree in kinesiology. While there, she called pitches for the entire pitching staff, coached hitting, and worked primarily with the catchers and infielders.

Baca has not only coached but also played at the NCAA Division I level. She was a four-year starter at Lamar University (2013-17), where she received first-team All-Southland honors as a catcher in her junior and senior seasons (2016, 17). She also received first-team All-Southland academic honors in 2016. 

Baca will begin recruiting immediately to prepare for the 2024 season. Jolee Camp (RHP, Soph.) and Pyper Castro (1B, Soph.) will return for their sophomore seasons.

Meanwhile, Merrill is taking over a program that had its first season in 2016. 

“Coach Merrill is going to be a great asset here at TCC and in our community,” Moore said. “He comes to Tallahassee with incredible experience throughout the state at both the high school and collegiate levels, which we believe will make him an incredible recruiter and coach. I look forward to the impact he will have on our cross-country program. I’m excited to have him and his family join us.”

Merrill was most recently the head coach track and field coach at St. John Lutheran School in Ocala. Before that, he was the head cross country coach and assistant track coach at Bradford High School in his hometown of Starke, Fla.

“I’m excited to be the new head women’s cross-country coach at TCC,” Merrill said. “I’m passionate about coaching because it gives me the opportunity to directly influence the development of future leaders as people, scholars, and athletes.”

Merrill also has coaching experience at the collegiate level as well, serving as an assistant at both of his alma maters, Jacksonville University and the University of West Florida.

Prior to coaching, Merrill has experience competing at the NCAA Division I level. During his four years at Jacksonville University, he competed for both the men’s cross country and track and field teams.