Player Bio: Scott Centala - University of Washington Official Athletic Site
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Scott Centala embarks on his first season as head coach of the Washington softball team after a seven-year stint as a Huskies' assistant coach.
Entering his eighth season on the UW coaching staff, Centala has helped develop one of the nation's elite teams. Since joining the program in 1997 as a defensive specialist, the program has boasted a 348-118-1 record, accruing an incredible .746 winning percentage. All totaled, Husky players have earned 20 All-America certificates, 45 selections to All-Pac-10 squads and 31 All-Conference academic honors during Centala's tenure.
In Centala's first season at Washington, the Huskies captured their third-straight 50-win season (50-19), won the regional championship and advanced to the semifinal game of the College World Series.
The Huskies had a repeat performance in 1998 (52-15). Despite fielding a starting line-up that featured seven freshmen and sophomores, the Dawgs ranked either third or fourth the entire season and finished third at the CWS.
The 1999 Huskies advanced to the national title game, coming within one run of the championship before succumbing to UCLA, 3-2. Despite the loss, the 1999 squad logged the program's fifth-straight 50-win season, finishing 51-18 overall. Washington also finished the season with a .970 fielding percentage to rank sixth in the nation.
The 2000 season proved to be a milestone year for the Huskies, as they boasted a program-best 62-9 record and fifth consecutive trip to the College World Series. The UW, which was ranked first in the nation for 13 straight weeks, broke more than 30 team or individual records en route to its second Pac-10 Conference title. The Huskies also notched a .977 fielding percentage to tie for second nationally.
In 2001, the UW coaching staff directed a young Husky squad, which included 10 freshmen, to the program's eighth consecutive NCAA tournament berth and a top-three finish in the Pac-10, in what was supposed to be a major rebuilding year.
In 2002, the Huskies fell short of their intended goal of returning to the CWS, despite a 46-18 record. Washington entered the regional tournament as the No. 1 seed but suffered a pair of one-run loses to Michigan and Ohio State to be eliminated from the postseason. Although seen as a disappointing season for the Huskies, the team finished third in the Pac-10 for its ninth straight, top-four finish in conference play and the team's ninth postseason appearance.
Last season, the Huskies earned the No. 1 seed at the regional tournament in Lincoln, Neb., where it swept the field 4-0 and out scored its opponents 35-1 to advance to the program's sixth College World Series. The Huskies defeated Oklahoma in the opener before dropping one-run games to Arizona and UCLA to finish the season tied for fifth place.
Centala's passion for softball was sparked from his professional baseball experience. Most recently, Centala played with the St. Paul Saints from May 1994 to September 1995. As a pitcher, he helped the Saints win the 1995 Northern League championship. Prior to his stint in St. Paul, Centala competed in the Minnesota Twins organization and on four teams in the Kansas City Royals organization from June 1989 to April 1993. He received the Rolaids Relief Award playing for the Eugene Emeralds in the Northwest League in Eugene, Ore., in 1989. He went on to earn all-star honors and was named Pitcher of the Year while with the Memphis Chicks in the AA Southern League in 1990, and advanced as far as AAA Omaha. Centala also played winter ball in the Dominican Republic from October 1991 to January 1992.
Playing collegiately at Texas A&M from 1986-1989, Centala captained the Aggies to the Southwest Conference championship as a senior and twice earned all-conference honors (1988, 1989). He played his freshman year at Oklahoma City University, garnering rookie of the year honors after leading his team to the 1985 NAIA World Series.
The Merced, Calif., native worked as a color commentator for numerous baseball and softball broadcasts with Meredith Cable in Roseville, Minn., from 1995-1997. He also co-hosted a weekly one-hour television show and has served as a coach and lecturer at several professional and amateur clinics and camps. Centala has been involved in the "Say No to Drugs Campaign" in addition to various other educational and motivational speaking engagements.
Centala earned a bachelor of science degree in scientific and technical communications from the University of Minnesota in August 1996.
He and his wife, Sandy, are parents of a daughter, Sydney (seven), and a son, Spencer, who was born last February.
