The husband-and-wife team of Teddy and Debby Abbott were recently hired by softball head coach Bobby Reeves to serve as assistant coaches.

Debby is taking over for Reeves’ daughter-in-law as ACU’s full-time assistant coach. Teddy is serving as a volunteer assistant coach.

Debby worked with Reeves while he coached at Texas Tech University. She has not worked with a college team since 2003, although she was a club consultant and assisted her husband when he was a coach at the University of Tulsa and then at East Central University.

Reeves said the hiring of Debby and Teddy was a no-brainer.

“Anytime a head coach goes through the process of hiring assistants, you have to hire the people you know will help you be successful,” he said. “Having coached with Debby before, I knew exactly what she was about.”

“Her and Teddy both are great people,” Reeves said. “It was an easy thought process for me.”

Debby played softball for the University of Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Northeastern State University. Before working with Reeves at Tech, she was a coach at Muskogee (Okla.) High School for five years. The Roughers played in five regional championships and two Large Division 6A State Championships during Debby’s tenure.

Debby is happy to be reacquainted with Coach Reeves.

“I am thrilled to get back to coaching with Coach Reeves,” she said. “It has been a good reunion. To be able to coach again with my husband is great too.”

Teddy’s college coaching experience includes three years assisting at East Central and two years at Tulsa. He also coached at the high school level and worked for 20 years in the summer ball league and club team circuits. He was on ECU’s staff last season when they lost two of three games to the Wildcats.

“I was somewhat familiar with ACU’s team already,” Teddy said. “We played them for three years while I was at East Central.”

“I didn’t know what ACU had to offer until we got on campus,” he said. “It’s a special place.”

Teddy and Debby have been married for over 30 years and have two children. Their daughter, Lindsey, played softball for Oklahoma and Wichita State University.

The entire pitching staff will return for next year’s squad, in addition to all-region outfielder Keanna Winkfield and Lone Star Conference Newcomer of the Year Courtney Flanary.

The ‘Cats begin their season Feb. 1 at St. Mary’s University.