Alabama softball associate head coach Alyson Habetz announces retirement

Alabama softball associate head coach Alyson Habetz has announced her retirement. The Crimson Tide made the news official in a press release Friday afternoon.

Habetz has served on Patrick Murphy’s staff since his arrival in Tuscaloosa in 1998. That was Alabama’s third-ever softball season, and they teamed up to build the program in the years that followed. During their time together, the Crimson Tide made it to 14 Women’s College World Series and won the 2012 national title.

Now, Habetz said it’s time to step away.

“It is with a heavy heart overflowing with gratitude that I am retiring from The University of Alabama to help care for my mom,” Habetz said in a statement. “Twenty-five years ago, Patrick Murphy asked me to help him start a softball program in Tuscaloosa. Accepting his invitation led me to discover a career that has truly filled my life beyond measure. There are no words I can say to appropriately thank Coach Murphy for such a gift. I have had the privilege of coaching beside a true legend in our sport. He has created an atmosphere of growth and a culture of excellence with family and gratitude as the centerpiece.

“What I admire most is Murph’s ability to win championships at the highest level while constantly emphasizing the development of the person over the athlete. Sharing this journey with Coach Murphy has truly been a blessing I will treasure, and I’m extremely honored to call him a mentor and a friend.”

Murphy also released a statement thanking Habetz for her time on the staff, pointing out how rare it is for someone to stay on a staff for such a long stretch.

“I can’t thank Aly enough for her loyalty and servant heart for the past 25 years,” Murphy said. “It is almost unheard of these days for a coach to stay at one school for so many years. Her legacy at Alabama will be passed down through our current and former players onto the next generation. Anyone who watched us saw her passion and fire on the field and it was always represented in the way we played.”

Alyson Habetz’s departure is the latest coaching staff change for Murphy this offseason. Alabama also named Adam Arbour as the program’s third assistant coach earlier this month, paving the way for Ryan Iamurri to take a full-time role as the Crimson Tide’s Coordinator of Player Management.

This past season, Alabama finished with a 45-22 record and a 14-10 record in SEC en route to a WCWS appearance. The season came to an end at the hands of Stanford, and the program now has to replace ace Montana Fouts. Murphy dove into the transfer portal to find a new arm, though, landing former Central Arkansas pitched Kayla Beaver.