In his first season leading The University of Texas Permian Basin softball program, UT Permian Basin Head Softball Coach David Martinez understood that success would not simply be measured in wins and losses. It would be defined by culture, accountability, and establishing a foundation that could sustain long-term growth. 

By the end of the 2026 season, the Falcons finished 18-31 overall and 9-29 in Lone Star Conference play, setting a new program record for conference and Division II victories while tying for the second-most overall wins in program history. More importantly, Coach Martinez believes the season marked the beginning of something larger. 

"I would rate it as the start of something to build off of," Coach Martinez said. "We accomplished a lot of things that we set out at the beginning of the year." 

Rather than entering the season focused on benchmarks or records, Coach Martinez and assistant coach Brooke Johnson emphasized development and process. As the season progressed, however, they began to notice the team steadily climbing toward milestones that reflected meaningful progress within the program. 

"We were not really focusing on that, we were just focusing on the process," said Coach Martinez. "However, as the season got going, Coach Brooke and I started noticing we were getting close to the previous wins mark in program history. So, we just kind of kept it amongst ourselves, not really letting the team know because we wanted to focus developing them." 

The early stages of the season offered signs that the program was heading in the right direction. A 7-2 overall start provided confidence, but Coach Martinez pointed to a home victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville as a pivotal moment that revealed the team's evolving mentality. 

"That is where we felt the program was starting to head in the right direction," Coach Martinez said. "The girls were starting to compete with a tougher mindset." 

That mentality became the defining characteristic of the 2026 Falcons. 

Over the course of the season, Coach Martinez consistently emphasized mental toughness, accountability, and resilience. Those principles were embraced quickly by the team's senior class, whose leadership helped establish the culture the coaching staff envisioned. 

"The seniors, they played a big role because they have been here for four years, and they helped shape this program by just understanding where coach and I were coming from," said Coach Martinez. "We felt that they wanted to change the program by not going back into what it used to be. They just started holding players accountable. Just branching off of what we were doing, because that was our main themes, holding players accountable, and they started to take the lead off of that."  

Coach Martinez hopes that accountability becomes synonymous with UTPB softball moving forward. When asked about the identity he wants the program to carry, his answer was immediate and direct. 

"A tough mindset," he said. "UTPB is a place that where if you want to come here, you are going to have to come and work. You are going to have to earn everything, just like in life."  

That mindset was perhaps best displayed during one of the team's signature moments of the season – a bounce-back win over Angelo State after suffering a difficult loss the game before. 

"It showed a lot of character," Coach Martinez said. "The game before we really got beat, eight-run ruled, and then they just showed a lot of character there with how they bounced back. They are just very resilient, and showed that they were figuring out how to be able to play through a little bit of adversity." 

While team culture was the primary focus, individual development also highlighted the progress made throughout the season. Pitcher Jessica Cantrell emerged as one of the team's standout performers after buying fully into the program's development plan. 

"Coach Brooke and Cantrell always had a plan," Coach Martinez said. "That was the biggest thing, because Brooke and I would sit down and we would talk about the rotation and how we would want the pitching staff to go. But Cantrell really bought into what we are doing and you could see the hard work she put in during the offseason translated into the season." 

Coach Martinez also pointed to several younger players who could become major contributors in the future, including Odalys Solis, Amathyst Gonzalez, Carlee Quintero, Kaylee Moses and Alivia Robinson. Rather than relying on one standout name, Coach Martinez believes the roster's collective growth will drive the program forward. 

"We had different people step up in different roles last year. So, it is just really hard to pinpoint one," said Coach Martinez. "There are going to be a lot of key contributors next year, but like I said, it is just really hard to pinpoint one person." 

This offseason, the Falcons plan to continue sharpening fundamentals while improving players' understanding of the game mentally. 

"It is really going to focus on the fundamentals and help teaching them the game because as we got going throughout the season, they started getting better, being a little bit more game savvy," said Coach Martinez.  

Despite the progress already made, Coach Martinez believes the program is only beginning its climb. After setting a new standard with nine conference wins, the Falcons now aim to surpass it in year two. 

"We want to hit double digits," Coach Martinez said. "That's going to be one of our main goals next year." 

For Coach Martinez, though, success cannot simply be defined by numbers. It remains rooted in growth, consistency, and maintaining belief in the process. 

"We just have to continue to build and continue to focus on the process," said Coach Martinez. 

As the offseason begins, Coach Martinez hopes fans recognize the direction the program is moving and the culture being established behind the scenes. 

"We are building something that we want fans and family to be proud of," he said. "It is a process, and we are going to continue to build a family atmosphere with a mental toughness mindset." 

If Coach Martinez had to summarize the 2026 season in a single phrase, the answer reflects the foundation he believes was laid throughout his first year leading the Falcons. 

"Mental toughness," he said. "That is what this team learned throughout the season. We wanted them to understand that softball mirrors life – adversity is going to happen, but it is about having a never-quit attitude and continuing to push forward with a tough mindset."