It has been a whirlwind month for Kyla Jobe, but the result was a satisfying one as the Greeneville softball standout found what she feels is the right college destination.
Jobe reopened her recruitment after her senior season with the Lady Greene Devils ended, and last week she announced she would be joining Lipscomb University’s softball program this fall.
The two-time All-State selection had been committed to the University of Tennessee for 15 months, but after coaching changes and philosophy changes within the Lady Vols’ program she felt that she needed to find a new destination. That led to a recruiting process that sometimes takes years of relationship building and research to be whittled down to a few weeks.
“My journey included some unexpected twists and turns,” Jobe said. “When I committed to Tennessee 15 months ago it felt like the right fit. Since then, there were some big changes in the coaching staff and how they run their program. I didn’t feel like it fit me as much as I wanted it to. I needed to reevaluate where things aligned with my values and my goals. Once I narrowed things down Lipscomb was at the top of list.
“The recruiting process was very intense and I had to dial things up, but I think one thing that helped was the coaches treated me kind of like I was in the transfer portal. They are used to recruiting on that quicker pace now. My travel ball coaches helped a lot in the process and even coach (Annette) Watts and coach Matt (Million) at Greeneville helped me a lot. It was a hard process, but having so many people helping made it easier.”
Ultimately Jobe landed on the Lady Bison of Lipscomb University, a program she had a relationship with from prior to her commitment to Tennessee. Jobe felt the school in Nashville provided exactly what she was looking for both athletically and academically. She is excited to be joining a program that wants to win and that is led by a veteran coach. Kristyn Ryman, a 2004 Lipscomb grad, has led the program since 2006.
“They are focused on fielding a winning program. They want to win the A-Sun even though many view them as an underdog, and that drive they have is what attracted me. I love the coaches, the team and the school, and that’s they won out,” Jobe said. “I know some of the girls that they are bringing in through travel ball, and they are good athletes who are really competitive. I want to play with people who are competitive. I wanted to be part of that, and try help them take the program to the next level.”
Lipscomb is coming off a 25-30 season where it went 11-13 in Atlantic Sun play.
The Lady Bison are bringing Jobe in as a utility player and she is excited to get to Nashville to have a chance to compete for a spot in the lineup. At Greeneville Jobe has played shortstop for the past three seasons, and the Lipscomb does have an opening on the left side of the infield.
“They are bringing me in as a utility player and know I can play anywhere,” Jobe said. “But they lost their shortstop to Auburn in the portal and they need a shortstop. Coming in I will have a chance to earn that spot. I think that is a great opportunity, and its exciting to know I can come in and earn a spot, wherever it is.”
This past season Jobe turned in one of the best offensive seasons in the state with a .631 batting average and .694 on-base percentage. She had 12 doubles, six triples and eight home runs to go with 42 RBIs and 59 runs scored.
She was a three-sport athlete at Greeneville and named the district Player of the Year in volleyball, basketball at softball. She will now get the opportunity to focus on softball exclusively and thinks she can grow her game even further.
“I’m going to come in and have to be ready for fall ball, which is something I haven’t done before,” Jobe said. “It will be different, and I’ll probably still spend some time shooting hoops in the gym, but I think it’s an opportunity to really hone my skills. I hope that lets me see a faster improvement in my game.”
The academic offering at Lipscomb were also a big part of her choosing the Nashville school. She wants to study forensic science and pre-law with interest in one day working for the TBI or FBI.
“I think they give me a lot of academic opportunities and chances to branch out,” Jobe said. “They have partnerships with the TBI and even with Vanderbilt. They have a very respected law program. I think those things fit with what I am looking for on the academic side of things.”
