Habetz promoted to associate UA softball coach

TUSCALOOSA | Alyson Habetz had several chances to leave the University of Alabama softball program to become a head coach, but was too loyal to leave.

The longtime Crimson Tide assistant coach has been rewarded with a promotion, becoming the program’s first-ever associate head coach. Habetz, 35, joined the UA staff in 1998 as the first assistant hired by Patrick Murphy when he was elevated to head coach and has played a part in helping Alabama to four trips to the Women’s College World Series and nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Murphy met with UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore and Marie Robbins, the UA athletic program’s senior women’s administrator, to arrange the promotion.

“No. 1, she’s a great person,” Murphy said. “She’s honest. She’s loyal. She’s a great salesperson for Alabama, just a great recruiter.

“This is probably something we could have done several years ago, or any year.”

Habetz currently earns around $60,000 per season and will be given a raise in conjunction with her new title.

“It was totally unexpected,” Habetz said. “I had no idea.

“I’m just really grateful to Coach Murphy and Marie and to Coach Moore for giving me such a great opportunity. I’m deeply humbled and extremely honored that Coach Murphy would want to promote me that way.”

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.