PRAIRIE VIEW - Head Softball Coach Vernon Bland of Prairie View A&M has been named the Texas Smoke women's professional fast-pitch assistant coach.

The Women's Fastpitch League, which launched last year, and is the only professional softball league in the country. For now, only four teams compete in the league, including Texas Smoke. 

The reigning WPF Champions, Texas Smoke, opened their season up on June 20 to begin defending their title. 

Brandon Phillips, who played baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, and his wife, pro wrestler Jade Cargill, have launched the team. Phillips said they chose Austin because it's a growing city and the state's capital.  He said he wanted to build a team like this because there aren't many opportunities for women in softball after college.

Bland in his 13th season as the head softball coach for the Lady Panthers has made an impact in the PVAMU record books and in the hearts of everyone fortunate enough to work with or play for him, as he ranks as the program's all-time winningest coach with 242 wins.  He is a three-time SWAC Championship winner and three-time SWAC Coach of the Year recipient.  Bland's softball teams have made three NCAA Regional Appearances

The Prairie View A&M Sports Hall of Famer has put together two back-to-back amazing seasons that have been ongoing, Bland recently completed a 23-1 SWAC record this past season and 29-19 overall.  Countless numbers of his players over the years have had Southwestern Athletic Conference recognitions.

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