USA softball newcomer Haley Fagan sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss her athletic background and why she chose South Alabama over Arkansas, Florida, Florida State and Washington.
 
Fagan, a utility player from Dunnellon, Fla., led Dunnellon High School to back-to-back class 4A Florida State Championships in 2009 and 2010. Fagan was a second-team all-state pick in 2010 and a third-team all-state honoree in 2009. Fagan’s father, Kevin, served as a defensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers for seven years in the National Football League. Haley also has two sisters currently playing collegiate softball at Arkansas (Kasey, 20) and Missouri (Sami, 19).
 
Said USA head coach Becky Clark of Fagan, “Haley comes from an extremely athletic family and a great softball background,” Clark said. “She’s had the experience of playing on one of the best club teams in the nation and has faced great competition from an early age. She is a competitor who brings a tremendous amount of athleticism and toughness to our program.

“She’s athletic enough to play several different positions on defense,” added Clark. “I am excited to have Haley join our program and look for her to contribute to our success immediately."
 
Talk about what it’s like coming from such an athletic family.
“We’re all really competitive with each other in that we push each other in our sports, but we’re also really supportive. It was different from other families growing up, but I feel like I’m better off now, from not only an athletic standpoint, but from an academic one as well.”
 
When did you start playing softball? What do you enjoy most about the game?
“I think when I was four. I played pretty much every sport, too, but my sisters liked softball, so I just stuck with that.”
 
Why did you choose South Alabama?
“It was the coaching staff. I loved the campus, it was my favorite out of the ones I visited, but I fell in love with how the coaches run the program and how they treated me as a recruit. I have been coming on visits to South since I was in the eighth grade. One summer, Coach Jimmy (Kolaitis) came to every one of my games. This is a family atmosphere, and I liked that.”
 
How is playing college softball different from high school so far?
“You really have to have good time management skills – I don’t have my mom to do my laundry and things like that.”
 
What’s it like having two sisters also playing NCAA Division I softball?
"Being far apart has actually brought us closer together. We’ve been talking about what they’re doing here and what we’re doing here.”
 
What are your goals for the upcoming season – both individually and for the team?”
“I want to start at third base. I definitely want to be in the lineup. I do have pretty high goals for myself. Everyone here is great. I can call any one of these girls up at night and they will meet me at the batting cages to practice. Everybody is really dedicated.”

What are you majoring in here at South Alabama, and what do you are plan on doing after graduation?
“Elementary Education. I want to teach because I love little kids.”
 
Favorite Athlete: Apollo Anton Ohno
Favorite Pro Sports Team: San Francisco 49ers
Favorite Academic Subject: English
Favorite Movie: “The Lion King II”
 
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