Entering his fourth season as head softball coach, Thomas Macera has firmly established a winning tradition at Valdosta State. Afterall, in just three years at VSU, Macera has tallied a 136-52 record for a winning percentage of .723. In his three seasons at the helm, the Lady Blazers have made three showings at the NCAA South Regional Tournament.

In his first season as VSU head coach, Macera led the Lady Blazers to a 41-24 overall record and an 18-14 mark in the Gulf South Conference, good enough for a fifth-place finish. The Lady Blazers defeated several ranked teams during the season and swept GSC rival Alabama-Huntsville in a four-game series, just the third time in school history that the feat had been accomplished. Macera and the Lady Blazers finished the season ranked seventh in the region and advanced to the 2006 NCAA Regional Tournament, where they finished third.

Macera's tutelage helped several Lady Blazers earn GSC accolades after the season while establishing a number of school records. Holly Willis was a four-year All-GSC selection and broke the VSU home-run record in 2006. Willis was also named to the 2006 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-South Region First Team and the 2006 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Third Team. Infielder, Amy Gaiss, was named to the 2006 NCAA South Regional All-Tournament Team. Caroline Cripe received 2006 All-GSC Second Team honors as second baseman.

Macera's second year at VSU pushed the team to new heights as he directed his squad to a 47-9 overall record, including a 22-2 mark in Gulf South Conference play. The Lady Blazers easily won the GSC East Division and finished second at the GSC Tournament. After ranking among the top five teams in the nation all season, Macera's 2007 squad finished the year ranked first in the NCAA South Regional rankings and hosted the NCAA South Regional Tournament.

The Lady Blazers' success in 2007 again led to a bevy of awards for Macera's team after the season. A record tying eight VSU players earned All-Gulf South Conference honors, including junior shortstop Alex Acosta, who was named the league?s Player-of-the-Year, and sophomore pitcher Brianna Collis, who was GSC Co-Pitcher of the Year. Collis, Acosta and junior pitcher Kristen Lindsey also were named to the Daktronics All-South Region team while Acosta earned third-team All-America by the National Fastpitch College Association. VSU?s success during the year also earned Macera Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year honors.

The success didn't slow down last season. The Lady Blazers finished 48-19 overall with an impressive 18-6 homestand and finished 17-6 in Gulf South Conference action. Valdosta State finished the season second in the East Division of the GSC and made a regional appearance.

The inidividual accolades continued to roll in for Macera?s players as Acosta, Robin Williams and Kristina Ely earned All-America honors. Kristen Lindsey broke a school record for the most strikeouts in a career and Andi Braswell broke the at-bats in a season record. Five Lady Blazers earned All-South Region recognition as well. Acosta and Williams were named first team while Ely, Braswell and Shannon Cleland were named to the second team. Acosta also won her second GSC Player of the Year award.

Macera, 43, who holds both bachelor's (1996) and master's (2003) degrees from VSU, began his coaching career at Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga. where he compiled a 206-67 (.755) record. His 2004 team registered a 53-4 worksheet and ended the season with the NAIA national crown, earning him NAIA Coach-of-the-Year honors.

Macera also spent one year as head coach at Lynn University and serves as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bandits, last season?s champion of the National Pro Fastpitch League.

Macera is married to the former Tana Marshall, who is also a VSU alumna, having earned two nursing degrees. Together they have a daughter, Taylor, 8, and a son Ty, 3.