LA Tech names Duran Interim Head Coach of Softball program

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech Director of Athletics Tommy McClelland announced today that Bianca Duran has been named interim head coach of the Lady Techster Softball program for 2020-21.

Duran replace Maria Winn, who stepped down in late July for health reasons.

The former Lady Techster letterwinner begins her fifth season in Ruston as a member of the coaching staff. She served for three years under Mark Montgomery, helping the Lady Techsters capture both the 2017 and 2019 Conference USA titles and advancing to the NCAA Regionals.

She has worked closely with the Lady Techster pitching staff during her time at Tech, including working with first team all-league arms Preslee Gallaway and Krystal De La Cruz.

She was an assistant coach under Winn in the COVID19-shortened 2020 season.

During her two years as a player in Ruston in 2014 and 2015, Duran helped elevate the Lady Techster program. As a senior she earned first team all-Mideast Region honors by the NFCA and was named to the Conference USA All-Tournament team.

Her career offensive totals in Ruston included a .295 batting average with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 58 RBIs while she recorded a 20-32 record in the circle with a 3.25 earned run average. As a senior she was 14-13 with a 2.78 ERA and led the Lady Techsters to a 30-plus win season.

During her two years at Western Nebraska Community College, Duran set the program record for career home runs (40), single season home runs (23), single season doubles (29), single season batting average (.545), single season hits (110), career wins and single season wins (36). She earned Region 9 Freshman of the Year and All-Region 9 honors as a freshman and Region 9 Pitcher and Player of the Year honors as a sophomore.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from LA Tech in May of 2015, Duran spent 2016 as an assistant coach at California State University Stanislaus State where she worked directly with the pitchers and catchers while also assisting with the hitters.