Eastman out as softball coach

Interim Coach Salinas named

Three weeks into the season, Javelina Softball Coach Douglas Eastman has been replaced.

Late Thursday, Javelina Athletics announced interim coach Orlando Salinas has taken over with little explanation as to why the abrupt change.

Eastman began his position at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in August 2022, and six months later is gone. Assistant Coach Erika Bennett was also removed, according to athletic officials.

Salinas has named his own assistant who is arriving Wednesday. 

Salinas met with softball players Thursday afternoon to discuss overall goals.

When asked about the situation Executive Director of Athletics Steve Roach refused to comment but did tout Salinas’s tie to TAMUK.

“I think when you look at his resumé and his family connection to A&M Kingsville, then his passion for the student athlete and his experience, it was an easy decision and he is just highly committed to the student-athlete experience and when I say that I mean not just winning and losing, but the true experience and making sure they develop as young women on and off the field,” Roach said.

Salinas is an alumnus of TAMUK as well as a former Javelina baseball player.

Salinas has been coaching in South Texas for more than 25 years. Recently, he was the assistant softball coach at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. 

“We are off and running so the one thing that I am gonna bring is we are gonna have a lot of energy and passion and the sooner we can make this a family the sooner they can finish their unfinished business in winning a national championship,” Interim Coach Salinas said.

Overall, the Javelinas Softball team is 2-4, but Coach Salinas looks to restart things the proper way in his first game with the Javelinas softball team with a double header at Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio on Sunday, Feb. 19