WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal has been named to the NCAA Division I Softball Oversight Committee.

The committee is comprised of 10 athletics administrators and is tasked with oversight of the sport of softball (e.g., playing rules, legislation, playing/practice/recruiting seasons, etc.) including seeding, bracketing and managing the Women's College World Series. Saal begins the first of a four-year term from 2025 to 2028. Wichita State head softball coach Kristi Bredbenner recently concluded a four-year term on the previous softball championship committee (2022-2025).

"It's an incredible honor to represent Wichita State and be named to the NCAA Division I Softball Committee," Saal said. "Softball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and investing in it means investing in opportunities for young women to compete, to lead and to achieve at the highest level. At Wichita State, we've seen firsthand how investment and growth in softball inspires our student-athletes, energizes our fans and strengthens our community."

Saal is entering his fourth year as the director of athletics at Wichita State. Since arriving in Wichita, the Shockers have won conference championships in softball, men's track and field, volleyball and women's bowling. In the classroom, Wichita State student-athletes recorded the highest semester cumulative grade-point average in school history with a 3.53 for the Fall 2024 semester. In July, Wichita State athletics successfully transitioned from Under Armour to Nike, signing a five-year partnership with the Swoosh and BSN Sports.

This past academic year (2024-25), Wichita State finished 151st in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings, a jump of nearly 100 spots after coming in at No. 247 in 2023-24, and the highest finish since 2018. The Shockers finished fifith in Leafield Directors' Cup points within the American Conference, five points out of third.

Wichita State opens Fall Ball on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. vs. McLennan Community College.