{{Short description|American softball coach}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Beth Torina | image = | alt = | caption = | current_title = Head coach | current_team = LSU | current_conference = SEC | current_record = {{Winning percentage|578|253|record=y}} | contract = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|10|15}} | birth_place = Chicago Heights, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | overall_record = {{Winning percentage|707|364|record=y}} | bowl_record = | tournament_record = {{winpct|49|29|record=y}} (NCAA) | championships = As player: * SEC regular season (1998) As assistant coach: * C-USA regular season (2007) * C-USA Tournament (2007) * Cowles Cup (2010) As head coach: * 2× Ringor Cup (2011, 2012) * SEC West Division (2013) | awards = * 2× Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year (2008, 2010) | coaching_records = | player_years1 = 1997–2000 | player_team1 = Florida | player_positions = Pitcher | coach_years1 = 2001–2002 | coach_team1 = Stetson (asst.) | coach_years2 = 2003–2007 | coach_team2 = Houston (asst.) | coach_years3 = 2008–2011 | coach_team3 = FIU | coach_years4 = 2011–2012 | coach_team4 = USSSA Pride | coach_years5 = 2012–present | coach_team5 = LSU }}
'''Elizabeth Dieter Torina''' (formerly '''McClendon'''; born October 15, 1978) is an American softball coach and former pitcher who is the current head coach at LSU.
==Early life and education== Born Elizabeth Dieter in Chicago Heights, Illinois, Torina grew up in Orlando, Florida and graduated from Dr. Phillips High School. Originally a walk-on and competing as Beth Dieter, Torina became the number-two pitcher on the Florida Gators softball team at the University of Florida and became the top starting pitcher as a junior in 1999. In her career, Torina made 139 appearances with 105 starts, a 60–39 record, 23 shutouts, and 716.2 innings pitched and is ranked top ten all-time in multiple categories including shutouts, appearances, wins, and starts.<ref>{{citation|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gatorzone.com/documents/2017/6/29/_6_20_17_Individual_Career_Records.pdf|title=2017 Career Individual Career Records (Softball)|publisher=University of Florida|accessdate=May 26, 2018}}</ref> As a senior in 2000, Torina had a career-best 1.75 earned run average.<ref>[http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/WSB/Softball_Women's_Division%20I_2000_235_University%20of%20Florida.pdf Softball Women's Division] ncaa.org</ref><ref name="Florida player"/> Torina graduated in 2000 with a B.S. in health sciences and occupational therapy.<ref name="Florida player">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030429154040/http://gatorzone.com/softball/bios.php?year=2000&bio=dieter.html|archivedate=April 29, 2003|url=https://floridagators.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6311|title=Beth Dieter|publisher=Florida Gators|accessdate=October 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Coaching career== ===Assistant coach (2001–2007)=== From 2000 to 2010, Torina was known as Beth McClendon.<ref name=Houston /><ref name="2010 notes"/><ref name="2011 notes"/> Torina began her coaching career as an assistant coach for the Stetson University softball team for two seasons from 2001 to 2002, during which she helped Stetson win a shared regular season Atlantic Sun Conference title in 2001.<ref name=Houston />
She then moved on to Houston from 2003 to 2007 as pitching coach.<ref name=Houston>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/mcclendon_beth00.html|title=Beth McClendon|publisher=University of Houston|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824123233/http://uhcougars.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/mcclendon_beth00.html|archivedate=August 24, 2007|url-status=dead|accessdate=May 21, 2023}}</ref> McClendon helped Houston make its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004, an at-large bid after the team finished fifth in the Conference USA regular season standings and runners-up in the C-USA tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/051604aaa.html|title=Cougar Softball Headed to Waco for NCAA Regional|publisher=University of Houston|date=May 16, 2004|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Houston finished the tournament 1–2 in the Baylor regional, beating Texas A&M–Corpus Christi and losing to Seton Hall and Illinois.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/052104aab.html|title=Fighting Illini knock Cougars out of NCAA Tournament|publisher=University of Houston|date=May 21, 2004|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/052004aaa.html|title=Cougars fall to Seton Hall in opening game of NCAA Regional|publisher=University of Houston|date=May 20, 2004|accessdate=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134152/http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/052004aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In Torina's final season at Houston in 2007, Houston won both the C-USA regular season and tournament titles, both firsts in program history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/042807aaa.html|title=Softball Dismisses East Carolina to Claim Conference USA Regular Season Crown|publisher=University of Houston|date=April 28, 2007|accessdate=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134033/http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/042807aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051207aad.html|title=Softball Dismisses East Carolina to Claim First Conference USA Crown|publisher=University of Houston|accessdate=May 27, 2018|date=May 12, 2007|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134150/http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051207aad.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Upsetting no. 23 Louisiana–Lafayette and regional host no. 7 Texas A&M before losing twice to Texas A&M, Houston went 2–2 in the College Station regional of the NCAA Tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051807aaa.html|title=Softball Outlasts No. 23 ULL|publisher=University of Houston|date=May 18, 2007|accessdate=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134154/http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051807aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051907aaa.html|title=Softball Stuns No. 7 Texas A&M|publisher=University of Houston|date=May 19, 2007|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/052007aab.html|title=Softball Falls Twice to No. 7 Texas A&M|publisher=University of Houston|date=May 20, 2007|accessdate=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528133946/http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/052007aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===FIU (2008–2011)=== Torina got her first head coaching job at Florida International University (FIU) on July 12, 2007, hired by athletic director Pete Garcia.<ref name="FIU hire">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134443/https://www.fiusports.com/news/2007/7/12/SB_6503.aspx?path=general|archivedate=May 28, 2018|title=Beth McClendon Named FIU Head Softball Coach|date=12 July 2007|publisher=FIU|accessdate=May 27, 2018|url=https://www.fiusports.com/news/2007/7/12/SB_6503.aspx?path=general}} [http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=56145&SPID=4768&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=1087986 Alt URL]{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Inheriting a 22–35 team, Torina led FIU to a 29–34 record and fourth-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference, for which she won her first Sun Belt Coach of the Year award.<ref name=FIU>{{cite web|url=http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49100&SPID=4768&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=1088632|title=Beth Torina|publisher=FIU|accessdate=May 27, 2018|date=2010|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134953/http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49100&SPID=4768&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=1088632|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=NCAA>{{cite web|url=http://stats.ncaa.org/people/32376|title=NCAA Statistics, Head Coaches: Beth Torina|publisher=NCAA|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}</ref> The following season, FIU finished 31–29, the first winning record in three years.<ref name=FIU />
In 2010, FIU went 38–21 (17–7 Sun Belt) with the program's second-ever NCAA Tournament bid, an at-large bid following second-place finishes in the Sun Belt regular season and tournament.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134550/https://www.fiusports.com/news/2010/5/17/SB_3501.aspx?path=softball|archivedate=May 28, 2018|title=Softball Earns Second Ever NCAA Tournament Bid|publisher=FIU|date=May 17, 2010|accessdate=May 27, 2018|url=https://www.fiusports.com/news/2010/5/17/SB_3501.aspx?path=softball|url-status=live}} [http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=56145&SPID=4768&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=204946963 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528135240/http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=56145&SPID=4768&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=204946963 |date=May 28, 2018 }}</ref><ref name=FIU /><ref name="2010 notes"/> FIU went 2–2 in the Gainesville regional of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, including an upset over regional host and eventual Women's College World Series participant Florida, which was then ranked no. 4 nationally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tkt.xosn.com/fls/11700/Stats_Cumulative/Softball/2010/teamgbg.htm|title=FIU Game-by-Game results (2010)|publisher=FIU|accessdate=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528135012/http://tkt.xosn.com/fls/11700/Stats_Cumulative/Softball/2010/teamgbg.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=FIU /> Torina delivered another winning season in 2011 with a 31–27 record, tied for third in the Sun Belt.<ref name=FIU /><ref name="2011 notes"/>
===LSU (2012–present)=== On June 20, 2011, Louisiana State University athletic director Joe Alleva named Torina head coach of the LSU Tigers softball team.<ref name="LSU hire">{{cite web|url=https://lsusports.net/news/2019/07/11/205173672-2/|title=LSU Softball Names Beth Torina Head Coach|publisher=LSU|date=June 20, 2011|accessdate=May 27, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134230/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=27870&SPID=2174&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=205173672|archivedate=May 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
In her first year as head coach, she led the Tigers to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Women's College World Series, followed by an SEC West Division title in 2013.<ref name=LSU>{{cite web|url=https://lsusports.net/sports/sb/roster/coach/beth-torina/|title=Beth Torina|date=June 2021 |publisher=LSU|accessdate=May 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/softball/weekend-review/2013-04-29/lsu-clinches-part-sec-west-title|title=LSU clinches part of SEC West title|last=Farnum|first=Amy|publisher=NCAA|date=April 29, 2013|accessdate=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528134814/https://www.ncaa.com/news/softball/weekend-review/2013-04-29/lsu-clinches-part-sec-west-title|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under Torina, LSU made repeat appearances in the Women's College World Series, from 2015 to 2017. Torina led the program to its first ever no. 1 national ranking in 2015 and the program's 1,000th all-time victory in 2016.<ref name=LSU /> Following the 2015 season, Torina earned a $45,000 raise that increased her annual salary to $225,000 and one-year contract extension through 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dellenger|first=Paul|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_c131484d-fc5c-5127-b84c-b20fc5a468dd.html|title= LSU's Paul Mainieri gets contract extension; Beth Torina receives extension, raise|work=The Advocate|place=Baton Rouge, LA|date=September 18, 2015|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}</ref> By the 2018 season, Torina had produced five NFCA All-American players at LSU.<ref name="another level">{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_f3f1463e-5a06-11e8-904a-3771080fada3.html|title= How Beth Torina continued the winning legacy of LSU softball and took it to another level |last=Gegenheimer|first=Mike|work=The Advocate|place=Baton Rouge, LA|date=May 17, 2018|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}</ref>
===USSSA Pride (2011–2012)=== Torina was also manager of the USSSA Pride of National Pro Fastpitch from 2011 to 2012. The Pride won the NPF Championship in 2010.<ref name=LSU />
==Personal life== Torina's first marriage was to Matt McClendon in 2000; they lived in Pearland, Texas when Torina was an assistant coach at Houston.<ref name=Houston /> She is currently married to former Houston Cougars baseball pitcher Nick Torina. They have three daughters.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.tigerrag.com/every-day-is-an-adventure-at-torina-elementary/|title=Every day is an adventure at Torina Elementary |date=9 April 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2021}}</ref>
== Head coaching record == {{CBB Yearly Record Start | type=coach | conf= | postseason= | poll=no }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = FIU Golden Panthers/Panthers | startyear = 2008 | conference = Sun Belt Conference | endyear = 2011 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2008 | name = FIU | overall = 29–34 | conference = 12–11 | confstanding = 4th<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiusports.com/news/2008/5/6/SB_5611.aspx?path=softball|title=Softball looking for first SBC championship|publisher=FIU|date=May 6, 2008|accessdate=May 26, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527202515/http://www.fiusports.com/news/2008/5/6/SB_5611.aspx?path=softball|archivedate=May 27, 2018}} [http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49099&SPID=4768&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=1457881 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527203005/http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49099&SPID=4768&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=1457881 |date=May 27, 2018 }}</ref> | postseason }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2009 | name = FIU | overall = 31–29 | conference = 13–11<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527202550/https://fiusports.com/news/2009/5/3/SB_4635.aspx|archivedate=May 27, 2018|title=FIU Loses 2–1 in Nine Innings at Florida Atlantic|publisher=FIU|accessdate=May 26, 2018|date=May 2, 2009|url=https://fiusports.com/news/2009/5/3/SB_4635.aspx}} [http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=4768&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=3732362 Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527203009/http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=4768&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=3732362 |date=May 27, 2018 }}</ref> | confstanding = 4th<ref>{{citation|url=http://nmnathletics.com/fls/11700/pdf/Softball/2010MG/pdf2.pdf|title=2009 Sun Belt Season Review|work=2010 FIU Softball Media Guide|year=2010|publisher=Florida International University|page=26|access-date=May 27, 2018|archive-date=May 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527201927/http://nmnathletics.com/fls/11700/pdf/Softball/2010MG/pdf2.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2010 | name = FIU | overall = 38–21 | conference = 17–7 | confstanding = 2nd<ref name="2010 notes">{{cite web|url=http://tkt.xosn.com/pdf8/693256.pdf|title=2010 Panther Softball: FIU at Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship|publisher=Florida International University|date=May 12, 2010|accessdate=May 26, 2018|pages=2, 4|archive-date=May 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527202858/http://tkt.xosn.com//pdf8/693256.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2011 | name = FIU | overall = 31–27 | conference = 14–10 | confstanding = T–3rd<ref name="2011 notes">{{cite web|url=http://tkt.xosn.com/pdf8/763125.pdf|title=2011 Panther Softball: FIU at Sun Belt Conference Tournament|publisher=Florida International University|date=May 12, 2011|accessdate=May 26, 2018|pages=1, 4|archive-date=May 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527202855/http://tkt.xosn.com//pdf8/763125.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> | postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = FIU | overall = {{winpct|129|111|record=y}} | confrecord = {{winpct|56|39|record=y}} }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name = LSU Tigers | startyear = 2012 | conference = Southeastern Conference | endyear = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2012 | name = LSU | overall = 40–25 | conference = 15–13 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(West)</small> | postseason = Women's College World Series }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = division | season = 2013 | name = LSU | overall = 42–16 | conference = 15–8 | confstanding = 1st <small>(West)</small> | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2014 | name = LSU | overall = 38–24 | conference = 13–11 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(West)</small> | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | season = 2015 | name = LSU | overall = 52–14 | conference = 15–9 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = Women's College World Series }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2016 | name = LSU | overall = 52–18 | conference = 13–11 | confstanding = 7th | postseason = Women's College World Series }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2017 | name = LSU | overall = 48–22 | conference = 12–12 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = Women's College World Series }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2018 | name = LSU | overall = 45–17 | conference = 13–10 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = NCAA Super Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2019 | name = LSU | overall = 43–19 | conference = 14–10 | confstanding = T–2nd | postseason = NCAA Super Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2020 | name = LSU | overall = 21–3 | conference = 0–0 | confstanding = | postseason = ''Season canceled due to COVID-19'' }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2021 | name = LSU | overall = 35–22 | conference = 13–11 | confstanding = T–5th | postseason = NCAA Super Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2022 | name = LSU | overall = 34–23 | conference = 13–11 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2023 | name = LSU | overall = 42–17 | conference = 13–11 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2024 | name = LSU | overall = 44–17 | conference = 12–12 | confstanding = T–6th | postseason = NCAA Super Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2025 | name = LSU | overall = 42-16 | conference = 12-12 | confstanding = 9th | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2026 | name = LSU | overall = 40-19 | conference = 13-11 | confstanding = 8th | postseason = NCAA Super Regional }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = LSU | overall = {{Winning percentage|618|272|record=y}} | confrecord = {{Winning percentage|186|152|record=y}} }} {{CBB Yearly Record End | overall = {{Winning percentage|747|383|record=y}} }}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=27870&SPID=2174&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=205174315 LSU Lady Tigers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121142053/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=27870&SPID=2174&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=205174315 |date=January 21, 2013 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Torina, Beth}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:American female sports coaches Category:American softball coaches Category:Softball coaches from Florida Category:Florida Gators softball players Category:FIU Panthers softball coaches Category:Houston Cougars softball coaches Category:LSU Tigers softball coaches Category:Sportspeople from Pearland, Texas Category:Stetson Hatters softball coaches Category:Sportspeople from Orlando, Florida Category:Softball players from Illinois Category:Softball players from Florida