Lozoya named the Marble Falls Lady Mustangs softball coach

The Marble Falls High School softball program has a new coach, Alejandro “Alex” Lozoya, who accepted the job days after it was posted in June.

“I was looking,” he said. “What sold me was the area and community. My brother is a firefighter in Spicewood, my mom lives in San Antonio, and I have in-laws in Austin. It feels like a great community to raise my boys.”

Lozoya was the head coach at Midlothian High School for 10 years. He was at another job interview when Dr. Chris Allen, the Marble Falls Independent School District superintendent, athletic director Brian Herman and assistant athletic director John Berkman called to request a telephone interview.

“I moved quickly enough,” Lozoya said. “I was in the parking lot of another school when I got the call from Marble Falls.”

Herman said Lozoya’s resume went to the top of the pile of applicants.

“He got a glowing recommendation from Doug Wendel, the athletic director,” Herman said. “He did not want to lose coach Lozoya. He’d been eyeballing this) job. He came to a tournament and fell in love with it. As soon as it opened, within hours of it opening, he’d already submitted his application.”

In the decade Lozoya was at the helm, the Lady Panthers advanced to the playoffs eight times and advanced to the second round several times. While there, he coached five all-state selections. He worked on the Texas Woman’s University and the University of Texas at Austin softball staffs. He was in Austin when Cat Osterman was the pitcher.

“He also has select ball experience as well as Big 12 (Conference) coaching experience,” Herman said. “He’s been successful every place he’s been. He’s on top of it. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Lozoya, who is the assistant cross country coach, is familiar with the challenges of coaching the Marble Falls softball team, which went through a transition during the 2022 season. The program had only enough players for a varsity team.

“I’ve spoken to parents,” he said. “I want to create an environment that people want to be apart of. It’s a new team, it’s a new program. At the same time, you can’t get people who don’t want to be here.”

Lozoya is addressing the 2023 schedule and took inventory of the equipment.

“He’s not afraid of working,” Herman said. “He understands the challenges.”

Lozoya plans to visit with the Marble Falls Youth Baseball and Softball Association and get to know the youngest players and their families and create a softball program at Marble Falls Middle School so the players know “softball is an option before they get to the high school.”

“It’s one of the goals,” he said. “I want to get to the middle school to build a program to establish a pipeline.”

He also looked forward to meeting more of the current Lady Mustangs when the academic year began Aug. 17. Lozoya said he plans to remind his players their importance to the youngsters who will wear the purple and gold in a few short years.

“You know how you look up to college players and Olympians?” he said. “The elementary kids see you the same way. Your attitude and behavior will be reflected in them.”

The 2023 softball season begins in February.

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