Sept. 1, 2011Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina Director of Athletics Chip Smith today announced the promotion of Jim Clift as the Catamount Head Softball Coach. Clift previously served as the top assistant coach for two seasons.”It is a pleasure to announce Jim Clift as the new head softball coach at Western Carolina University,” Smith said. “Jim is very familiar with our program and the student-athletes on the team. We are looking forward to a very successful season this spring.”"I am honored and grateful to be the new head coach of the Western Carolina University softball program,” Clift said. “Any coach should feel fortunate being able to work with young athletes, I feel especially blessed to have the opportunity to work with the players here at Western, a very young team that is starting to mature, and I believe good times are ahead. I also believe good times are now here.”Clift began his softball coaching career in 1997. Since that time, he has coached at every level, winning All-Star district, regional and national championships. As a travel softball coach with Xtreme Softball, Inc., in California, Clift coached teams at the 14U, 16U and 18U levels. All told, he has coached over 30 teams in his career.A native of San Diego, Calif., Clift served as head softball coach at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace (2004-2009) where he led the school to league titles in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Under Clift, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace was a playoff participant each year, compiling a record of 102-52.A 26-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, Clift was a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team for 23 years. Of the last 20 years of service, he was a member of the full-time hostage rescue unit, the Special Response Team (SRT). As a member of SRT, Clift served as a lead SWAT instructor for over 20 years.    Clift is a 1992 graduate of San Diego State University in Sociology and Public Administration. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree from the Texas Woman’s University in Kinesiology in 2007. He also received his Four-Star Master Coach Certification from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) in 2006.Western Carolina is scheduled to return 15 players from the 2011 team which won 18 games, the most for the program since winning 19 in 2008.”The Catamount softball program is still relatively young and we are presented with an awesome opportunity to establish a new culture of winning and pride,” Clift noted. “It is an exciting challenge. With a beautiful campus, excellent softball facility and support from great people in our athletic department, we have the tools to get it done.”