Former Lady Topper Amy Tudor has been hired as the new softball coach at WKU, replacing coach Tyra Perry, who accepted the same position at Ball State earlier this month.

A 2002 WKU graduate, Tudor was a three-year captain during her time on the Hill. Tudor holds a WKU record as a catcher for throwing out 23 runners attempting to steal.

Tudor comes to WKU after spending the last four seasons at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Athletics Director Todd Stewart told the Herald on Wednesday that he hoped a search committee would hire a candidate by the end of the week.

“I am confident (Tudor) is the perfect person to accelerate our program’s growth and lead us to new heights,” Stewart said in a statement Thursday. “Eleven years after she graduated from WKU as a six-time member of the Dean’s List, it is great to have Amy back on The Hill as our head softball coach.”

Tudor said in a WKU press release that chance returning to WKU is a “very humbling and exciting opportunity.”

She is taking over a program coming off of its most successful season in school history.

Last season, the Lady Toppers finished 43-18 and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, where the Lady Toppers fell to Alabama in the Regional Championship.

Tudor served as coach at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne for the past four seasons before accepting the job at WKU. She posted a .680 winning percentage in her time at IPFW and won the Summit League Tournament last season for the first time in school history.