July 4, 2026 • 9 mins
Kiwi softball coach Mike White has been making progress in Texas.
He joined Piney to discuss the state of his career in the US.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
White has become one of the most successful coaches in
world softball. The Wellington born former Black Sox pitching great
has now guided the University of Texas to back to
back Women's College World Series titles, cementing the Longhorns among
the elite programs in college softball. Twing and a miss
(00:35):
one out the way from back to back rings final strike,
Texas does it and they have the fucker five second
national championship in a row. Mike White is with us
from the United States. My congratulationship now won back to
(00:56):
back national championships. Has this one had a different feeling
to the first? Or are you still trying to take
it all in?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, still trying to take it all in, Jason, because
everything has happened so quickly. You know, once you kind
of finished the finish with the season there you're one
of the last team standing, of course, and it goes
right into recruiting and the transfer portal, which is something
new that's happened the last few years, and just amending
and getting ready for the following year. So it took
a little bit of time, but you know it was
(01:25):
ultimately a little different because you have a different team
each year, but the feeling was just great. It's almost surreal,
so to speak.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You had to come through the loser's break at and
win six straight elimination games. Mike, can you tell us
about that period of the season and what you saw
in terms of the resilience and the belief in your players.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, we talk about the fact that the game doesn't know.
Who doesn't know that you've lost a game, and ultimately
it's something just one more game than you would have
done if you'd won straight through. So back to the
wall and which was being the most dangerous when that happens,
you know, we got nothing to lose, and you know,
the expectations maybe a little bit lower. So just free
yourself up and compete, and that's all we can ask
of ourselves, to compete at the highest level that we
(02:08):
can and see where the chips lay, and ultimately we're
able to put some pressure on those other teams and
obviously had tremendous performances from our pitching and clutch hitting.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Coaches often talk about culture, and as you mentioned, the
team changes every year, so when people watch your teams
play regardless of who is playing. What are the values
you hope that they say reflected?
Speaker 3 (02:32):
I think love for one another. And it's something that
I've worked hard on, is becoming less of a transactional
coach and more of a transformational coach. And so what
that means is just carrying for the players more than
just you know, chess pieces on a board, so to speak,
and you know, then and just then playing for one another.
And one thing we said about for this is, you know,
ultimately there's the pressure that comes upon one player, you know,
(02:55):
I feel like you have to do it, you know,
for yourself or you don't want to underperform or anything
else like that. So just pick out someone else that
you're playing for and play for them. And that's what
the team did this time.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
What a great attitude. I know you've said it's hard
to compare the two titles. Was there, though, a particular
moment during this latest title run when you thought to yourself,
you know what, we've got a pretty special team here.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We could win this well. I think it actually went
two weeks before that, you know, when we were playing
against Oklahoma and we were down two in the series,
and you play the best of three, and you play
three games actually, and we were down two and we
were down in this last game, and we came back
and tied it up, went ahead, and then we gave
the run back up and it went extra endings, and
(03:39):
then we came from behind again, and it was like,
you know, this team just doesn't want to quit. And
so that was one instance of it. And then of
course winning the SEC title, going through and winning the
championship series, running three straight games and betting a really
good Alabama team. So that was when you kind of
had an idea, you know, this team has the goods
to be able to get the job done.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Your number one pitcher, tiag In Kvan outstanding throughout the
season and the World Series. How special has her development been?
And where does she rank among the pitches that you
have coached?
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Oh, I think she's right up there. I've been blessed
to coach a lot of good pitches over my coaching career,
but you know, she stands up there for maybe not
on our full season number, but just her ability to
step up in the big moments and get the job done.
I mean that that those last two innings when she
came in and we had the one run lead to
start with and it became three, but she was just
(04:31):
in total command and just was, like I called on
her an assassin. She was just just giving him no
shot at all. And you know that's that's the ability
to lift your game to another level.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
And every championship team has unsung heroes as well as
the obvious stars like Tagan we've just talked about. Were
there players in your team who maybe didn't grab the
headlines so much but were absolutely vital to your title run.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah. I think our secondary pitching sEH Lalie Gutis, who
was a second string pitcher, because that was one of
our issues throughout the season was finding someone this moving
into that number two role. We knew we had the
number one, but who was going to be the supplemental
player to be able to give us give them a
break if Teakan was struggling at any point during the
during the run, and that was st Lally. She stepped
(05:19):
up huge for us and was able to hold them
the other team down for three to four innings until
Teagan was able to come in and close it out.
And the same thing happened the year before with Mac Morgan.
There was another secondary picture for us, and without that
contribution from most people and being ready to come in
would never have happened.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Mike, you've now built Texas into one of the premiere
programs in college softball in the US. When you arrived
there seven years ago, did you genuinely believe the program
could reach the heights that it has?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yes, I did, and that's one of the reasons I
made the move. And you know, fortunately I was able
to bring four of my players from Oregon down to
help kind of kickstart it and everything and just get
the momentum going. And that's a big thing, is like,
you're not going to win it straight away. I mean
you've seen that with Texas Tech pumping a lot of
money into their program, they still haven't won it in
two years. So you can't just buy a team, so
(06:11):
to speak. And it took a time to develop and
get going. But I felt like with the recruiting resources,
you know, the ability of gruit from across the country,
the standing of the university as an academic institution, being
one of the top ten public institutions in the country,
I thought, well, we had everything that we needed to
attract the top talent you.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Talked about recruiting and how important that is, especially when
the team is turning over so often. When you are recruiting,
what are the biggest things you look for beyond talents
out on the diamond.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Yeah, I think grits and teamwork and respect. I mean,
I think just how they treat their parents, how they
treat their teammates, how they treat the game. But just
the way they carry themselves. You know, confidence is hard
to kind of teach, So did they have that confidence
in themselves as a playoff but not the arrogance. I
think that that is a big part, and they've learned
how to contribute in the team setting. So it's all
(07:04):
part and parcel of one package, and you try to
build that as you go along. Obviously the physical characteristics
are huge, but the mental partsy and tangibles are what
separate us.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
In your own journey, Mike Itt started in Wellington, you're
playing Korea through the Black Sox, and now you're one
of the most successful college's college softball coaches that there is.
Did you ever imagine that life would take you where
it has?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Certainly not. I mean there's been some you know, I
love the Jogi Berrat quote that talks about when you
come to a fork in the road, take it. And
I've taken several forks and been fortunate to be able
to come out the right way on some of these
roads that I've taken. But it's been about building the
relationships I've had some obviously going to the Mirramart Club
and learning from that program, that system, and then of
(07:53):
course Mike Walsh with the New Zealand national team, Mark
Science and all the great players that I've played with
contributed to what I've brought into the softball game at
the women's level, and my success, tom my success just.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
To finish that two national championships. Now, does the thought
of a third straight championship will restart bubbling away? Or
have you forced yourself to enjoy this one for a
little while before you start thinking about next season.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
No, I'm already starting on the third ones, you know,
and we want to keep attacking and getting better. And
I think we were very fortunate in the transfer portal
to pick up three exceptional players, got a great recruiting
class coming in, and again my goal is to just
become a better programmers, continue to play the game to
a level that I think we can get to which
(08:39):
is above where we're at right now, and that's the
challenge is just continue to put that carrot out there
and keep pushing. We're the winner lose. I mean, I
think that we're all ambassadors for the game of softball,
and with the Olympics coming to the US in twenty
twenty eight, it's another exciting time for hopefully fast pit
shuffle to promote it and to grow as a sport.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Congratulations again, Mike, great to chat to you. Thanks for
taking the time Mike White, who's guided the universe of
Texas to back to back Women's College World Series titles.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks at b weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
White has become one of the most successful coaches in
world softball. The Wellington born former Black Sox pitching great
has now guided the University of Texas to back to
back Women's College World Series titles, cementing the Longhorns among
the elite programs in college softball. Twing and a miss
(00:35):
one out the way from back to back rings final strike,
Texas does it and they have the fucker five second
national championship in a row. Mike White is with us
from the United States. My congratulationship now won back to
(00:56):
back national championships. Has this one had a different feeling
to the first? Or are you still trying to take
it all in?
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, still trying to take it all in, Jason, because
everything has happened so quickly. You know, once you kind
of finished the finish with the season there you're one
of the last team standing, of course, and it goes
right into recruiting and the transfer portal, which is something
new that's happened the last few years, and just amending
and getting ready for the following year. So it took
a little bit of time, but you know it was
(01:25):
ultimately a little different because you have a different team
each year, but the feeling was just great. It's almost surreal,
so to speak.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You had to come through the loser's break at and
win six straight elimination games. Mike, can you tell us
about that period of the season and what you saw
in terms of the resilience and the belief in your players.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yeah, we talk about the fact that the game doesn't know.
Who doesn't know that you've lost a game, and ultimately
it's something just one more game than you would have
done if you'd won straight through. So back to the
wall and which was being the most dangerous when that happens,
you know, we got nothing to lose, and you know,
the expectations maybe a little bit lower. So just free
yourself up and compete, and that's all we can ask
of ourselves, to compete at the highest level that we
(02:08):
can and see where the chips lay, and ultimately we're
able to put some pressure on those other teams and
obviously had tremendous performances from our pitching and clutch hitting.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Coaches often talk about culture, and as you mentioned, the
team changes every year, so when people watch your teams
play regardless of who is playing. What are the values
you hope that they say reflected?
Speaker 3 (02:32):
I think love for one another. And it's something that
I've worked hard on, is becoming less of a transactional
coach and more of a transformational coach. And so what
that means is just carrying for the players more than
just you know, chess pieces on a board, so to speak,
and you know, then and just then playing for one another.
And one thing we said about for this is, you know,
ultimately there's the pressure that comes upon one player, you know,
(02:55):
I feel like you have to do it, you know,
for yourself or you don't want to underperform or anything
else like that. So just pick out someone else that
you're playing for and play for them. And that's what
the team did this time.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
What a great attitude. I know you've said it's hard
to compare the two titles. Was there, though, a particular
moment during this latest title run when you thought to yourself,
you know what, we've got a pretty special team here.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We could win this well. I think it actually went
two weeks before that, you know, when we were playing
against Oklahoma and we were down two in the series,
and you play the best of three, and you play
three games actually, and we were down two and we
were down in this last game, and we came back
and tied it up, went ahead, and then we gave
the run back up and it went extra endings, and
(03:39):
then we came from behind again, and it was like,
you know, this team just doesn't want to quit. And
so that was one instance of it. And then of
course winning the SEC title, going through and winning the
championship series, running three straight games and betting a really
good Alabama team. So that was when you kind of
had an idea, you know, this team has the goods
to be able to get the job done.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Your number one pitcher, tiag In Kvan outstanding throughout the
season and the World Series. How special has her development been?
And where does she rank among the pitches that you
have coached?
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Oh, I think she's right up there. I've been blessed
to coach a lot of good pitches over my coaching career,
but you know, she stands up there for maybe not
on our full season number, but just her ability to
step up in the big moments and get the job done.
I mean that that those last two innings when she
came in and we had the one run lead to
start with and it became three, but she was just
(04:31):
in total command and just was, like I called on
her an assassin. She was just just giving him no
shot at all. And you know that's that's the ability
to lift your game to another level.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
And every championship team has unsung heroes as well as
the obvious stars like Tagan we've just talked about. Were
there players in your team who maybe didn't grab the
headlines so much but were absolutely vital to your title run.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah. I think our secondary pitching sEH Lalie Gutis, who
was a second string pitcher, because that was one of
our issues throughout the season was finding someone this moving
into that number two role. We knew we had the
number one, but who was going to be the supplemental
player to be able to give us give them a
break if Teakan was struggling at any point during the
during the run, and that was st Lally. She stepped
(05:19):
up huge for us and was able to hold them
the other team down for three to four innings until
Teagan was able to come in and close it out.
And the same thing happened the year before with Mac Morgan.
There was another secondary picture for us, and without that
contribution from most people and being ready to come in
would never have happened.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Mike, you've now built Texas into one of the premiere
programs in college softball in the US. When you arrived
there seven years ago, did you genuinely believe the program
could reach the heights that it has?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yes, I did, and that's one of the reasons I
made the move. And you know, fortunately I was able
to bring four of my players from Oregon down to
help kind of kickstart it and everything and just get
the momentum going. And that's a big thing, is like,
you're not going to win it straight away. I mean
you've seen that with Texas Tech pumping a lot of
money into their program, they still haven't won it in
two years. So you can't just buy a team, so
(06:11):
to speak. And it took a time to develop and
get going. But I felt like with the recruiting resources,
you know, the ability of gruit from across the country,
the standing of the university as an academic institution, being
one of the top ten public institutions in the country,
I thought, well, we had everything that we needed to
attract the top talent you.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Talked about recruiting and how important that is, especially when
the team is turning over so often. When you are recruiting,
what are the biggest things you look for beyond talents
out on the diamond.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Yeah, I think grits and teamwork and respect. I mean,
I think just how they treat their parents, how they
treat their teammates, how they treat the game. But just
the way they carry themselves. You know, confidence is hard
to kind of teach, So did they have that confidence
in themselves as a playoff but not the arrogance. I
think that that is a big part, and they've learned
how to contribute in the team setting. So it's all
(07:04):
part and parcel of one package, and you try to
build that as you go along. Obviously the physical characteristics
are huge, but the mental partsy and tangibles are what
separate us.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
In your own journey, Mike Itt started in Wellington, you're
playing Korea through the Black Sox, and now you're one
of the most successful college's college softball coaches that there is.
Did you ever imagine that life would take you where
it has?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Certainly not. I mean there's been some you know, I
love the Jogi Berrat quote that talks about when you
come to a fork in the road, take it. And
I've taken several forks and been fortunate to be able
to come out the right way on some of these
roads that I've taken. But it's been about building the
relationships I've had some obviously going to the Mirramart Club
and learning from that program, that system, and then of
(07:53):
course Mike Walsh with the New Zealand national team, Mark
Science and all the great players that I've played with
contributed to what I've brought into the softball game at
the women's level, and my success, tom my success just.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
To finish that two national championships. Now, does the thought
of a third straight championship will restart bubbling away? Or
have you forced yourself to enjoy this one for a
little while before you start thinking about next season.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
No, I'm already starting on the third ones, you know,
and we want to keep attacking and getting better. And
I think we were very fortunate in the transfer portal
to pick up three exceptional players, got a great recruiting
class coming in, and again my goal is to just
become a better programmers, continue to play the game to
a level that I think we can get to which
(08:39):
is above where we're at right now, and that's the
challenge is just continue to put that carrot out there
and keep pushing. We're the winner lose. I mean, I
think that we're all ambassadors for the game of softball,
and with the Olympics coming to the US in twenty
twenty eight, it's another exciting time for hopefully fast pit
shuffle to promote it and to grow as a sport.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Congratulations again, Mike, great to chat to you. Thanks for
taking the time Mike White, who's guided the universe of
Texas to back to back Women's College World Series titles.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks at b weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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