Oklahoma State softball: Florida catcher Julia Cottrill transfers to Cowgirls

Standout catcher Cottrill transfers to OSU

Julia Cottrill, a decorated catcher at softball power Florida, has transferred to Oklahoma State.

Cottrill is the daughter of OSU assistant coach Jeff Cottrill. She played high school ball at Stillwater before spending two years at Florida. Julia started in 50 games last season and had a .992 fielding percentage with 22 assists. She batted .294 with five homers, 26 RBI and 10 doubles.

“It’s good to be home,” Cottrill said in a statement. “I’ve always the admired the culture and atmosphere at Oklahoma State and I’m grateful to get to be a part of it. It just so happens to be a plus that my childhood hitting coach is on the staff.”

Cottrill, who will be a junior next spring, earned several Southeastern Conference awards. She also played for the Under-19 U.S. Women's National Team.

More: Why Florida softball player Julia Cottrill is rooting for Oklahoma State at the WCWS

Meyer not returning to college football

Urban Meyer has no interest in coaching college football again.

A person familiar with Meyer’s thinking said the 57-year-old coach is fully committed to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and has no plans to return to college football. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the former Ohio State coach has yet to make his plans public.

Meyer shot down speculation about leaving the NFL for Southern California after the Trojans fired coach Clay Helton in September, and his name was immediately linked to Notre Dame on Monday after coach Brian Kelly bolted for LSU. Meyer spent five years (1996-2000) as receivers coach in South Bend, Indiana, and even called the Fighting Irish a “dream job” while he was at Florida in 2008.

The USC position was filled on Monday by former Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley.

NOTRE DAME: Brian Kelly apologized to the Notre Dame football team late Monday night for not sharing the news of his departure from the program in person.

In a message obtained by The Athletics' Pete Sampson, Kelly wrote that he has more to share on the matter at the team's meeting Tuesday morning.

Kelly, 60, became the winningest coach in Notre Dame history this season, ending his time with the Fighting Irish with an 11-1 season, College Football Playoff contention and a total of 12 seasons with a run of 113-40.

MICHIGAN: Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh received a $500,000 bonus when his team defeated Ohio State to secure the Big Ten East crown on Saturday, and within 48 hours he’d teamed with his wife, Sarah, to develop a plan for how to use it.

During his weekly appearance on the “Inside Michigan Football” radio show, Harbaugh announced his intention to funnel any bonus money he receives to the U-M athletic department as a means of repaying employees who worked for reduced wages because of the pandemic.

VIRGINIA TECH: The Hokies hired Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry as its next head coach. The school made the announcement Tuesday, saying Pry will be introduced Thursday. Pry replaces Tulsa native Justin Fuente.

Shortstop Baez signs with Tigers

The Detroit Tigers have reached an agreement on a six-year, $140 million contract with free-agent shortstop Javier Báez, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Free Press on Tuesday morning.

Báez, who turns 29 on Wednesday, has hit .264 with 149 home runs and 465 RBIs in 862 career games. He spent eight seasons with the Chicago Cubs before a move at the 2021 trade deadline in July sent him to the New York Mets.

CUBS: Chicago added another catcher on Tuesday, agreeing to a $13 million, two-year contract with Yan Gomes.

BRAVES: The world champion Atlanta Braves have locked up manager Brian Snitker for three more seasons after he guided the team to its first World Series title since 1995. The 66-year-old Snitker has spent more than 40 years in the Braves organization. ...

Also, Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna received a retroactive 20-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. Ozuna was arrested May 29 on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police officers said they witnessed him attacking his wife. He was placed on administrative leave under the domestic violence policy. The suspension is retroactive to Sept. 10 and covers the final 24 days of the regular season, costing him approximately $1.55 million of his $12 million salary.

GIANTS: Right-hander Alex Cobb is close to finalizing an agreement with the San Francisco Giants, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Monday. Cobb, 34, went 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA over 18 starts and 93 1/3 innings for the Los Angeles Angels this past season. He struck out 98 and walked 33.

Extra points

NFL: Kendall Fuller's interception on Seattle's 2-point conversion attempt allowed Washington to hold on and beat the Seahawks 17-15 Monday night for the team's third consecutive victory.

WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: UConn sophomore guard Paige Bueckers is the first college athlete to represent Gatorade, announcing Monday a multiyear name, image and likeness deal. It is the second NIL deal announced for Bueckers, who also has a partnership with sneaker marketplace StockX.

Staff and wire reports

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU softball: Florida catcher Julia Cottrill transfers to Cowgirls