Travis Wilson - Assistant Coach - Softball Coaches

Travis Wilson

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
tdwilson@fsu.edu

2023 NATIONAL RUNNER-UPS
2021 NATIONAL RUNNER-UPS
2018 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPION
2018 NFCA NATIONAL COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR

Assistant Florida State softball coach Travis Wilson will begin his 16^th season at Florida State in 2027 as he leads the Seminole offense and defense. FSU has earned 10 ACC regular season/division titles, nine ACC tournament championships, 12 trips to the NCAA Super Regionals, five appearances in the Women’s College World Series and won the 2018 NCAA National Championship, while posting a 743-171-2 record (.812 winning percentage) in his 15 years at Florida State. Wilson, along with head coach Lonni Alameda and former assistant coach Craig Snider, earned 2018 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

The Noles have turned their offensive production around under Wilson, as they have had at least 335 runs scored, 460 hits, 50 home runs and 300 RBI in 12 of the last 14 full seasons. When Wilson arrived at Florida State after the 2011 season, the Seminoles had finished the year with 286 runs scored, 40 home runs and 238 RBI. Overall, the Seminole offense has continued to see great improvement under Wilson. Since he came to campus, Florida State has set school records for batting average, runs, home runs, doubles and RBI.

Wilson has also been a part of the development of some of the best softball players the sport has seen. 28 players have earned NFCA All-America honors under Wilson including National Players of the Year Lacey Waldrop (2014) and Isa Torres (2026).

Wilson is seen as an excellent instructional mind by FSU’s student-athletes, which was evident from the first day of practice in fall 2011. He is a reliable arm for batting practice who is always offering excellent teaching points to better enlighten each player. Wilson has proven to be an absolute student of the game who utilizes various statistics in his meticulous game-day preparation.

Wilson is a native of New Zealand who has already taken on an important role in recruiting. The baseball, softball and cricket veteran serves as the Seminoles’ hitting and fielding coach, using his past success as a player to better serve his student-athletes.

“Travis is from both professional baseball and the New Zealand National Program,” head coach Lonni Alameda said when Wilson first arrived in summer 2011. “From the first time I met Travis I knew he would be a great fit for our program. It is not often you come across someone that has played the same game that the girls do and yet has 10 years of Major League Baseball experience. He is personable and he has won at the highest level of this game from the men’s side. He has played every position you can on the field and has been among some of the world’s best in men’s fastpitch. I believe Travis will be able to relate to the players on a unique level as he stills plays the game. He is excited about this opportunity and can help our program get to the next level.”

From 1996-2004, Wilson played seven seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization covering all stops from Rookie Ball to Triple-A. He enjoyed much success in his professional stint, being named an All-Star for the Appalachian League (1998), South Atlantic League (1999) and the Carolina League (2000). He was named Carolina League Player of the Year for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and led the Grapefruit League in hitting for the Braves during spring training in 2001.

Wilson ended his professional career in 2004 with the Cincinnati Reds organization in Chattanooga, Tenn. As a softball player in New Zealand for the Black Sox, he made his debut as a 16-year old in 1994 and was named both the New Zealand Softballer of the Year and the Canterbury Softballer of the Year after posting a team-best .396 batting average in 1996. He would earn the Canterbury Player of the Year honor multiple times and become one of his country’s biggest softball ambassadors. Wilson also was named the New Zealand Softballer of the Year in 2006 and was voted into the New Zealand Softball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Wilson’s most recent baseball stint was as an instructor for the Idaho Falls, a Rookie League team of the Kansas City Royals. His tasks included scouting the Pioneer League, writing reports and utilizing video while communicating with the Royals organization on several prospects. His efforts have helped the Royals claim their status of having the best farm system in Major League Baseball, as asserted by several minor-league publications. On the field, he helped his players develop their infield/outfield skills, base running and hitting mechanics. Wilson also served as an expert commentator for the ISF Men’s World Softball Series and was a fielding coach and video analyst for the Black Caps of the New Zealand Cricket Association.

From 2015-2017, he served as the assistant coach for the USSSA Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch league, helping the Pride lead the league in the regular-season standings and finish second in the postseason in all three seasons.

Wilson is married to his wife, Jill. The two have a son named Tyler and a daughter named Josie.