The niece of one of the most famous figures in South Kitsap athletic history will guide the school’s fastpitch program.

Athletic director Ed Santos said Mindi Outhwaite, whose uncle was the late Elton Goodwin, was selected Friday to replace Jessica Cabato.

Cabato left the team after two seasons to take a similar position at Olympic High School, where her daughter is a freshman.

Santos said Outhwaite, 34, stuck out during the interview process.

“She walks into the room and you’re excited,” Santos said. “She has a lot of positive energy.”

Outhwaite also has strong ties to the school. In addition to Goodwin, who guided the Wolves to a 491-136 record and three state baseball championships from 1976 to 2003, Outhwaite’s husband, Joe, teaches at the high school and is an assistant coach with South’s boys basketball program.

“Coaching is definitely in our family,” Outhwaite said, laughing.

Outhwaite, a 1998 South graduate, pitched for the Wolves and later at Seattle University, where she earned her nursing degree in 2003. She also served as an assistant coach at Mount Rainier in 2003-04 and has worked with pitchers on a select team.

She inherits a program that has advanced to state in two of the last three seasons, but also has been faced instability. Outhwaite, a public health nurse, is the Wolves’ fourth coach in five seasons. Changing that is among her goals.

“I hope to come in with new energy and kind of revitalize the program,” she said. “I hope to be a great motivator and role model for the girls.”

Tryouts do not begin until March 2, but Outhwaite is hopeful she will have an opportunity to meet with players and coaches before then to become familiar with everyone and develop “a team plan going forward.”

Outhwaite said the feedback she has received about the team has been positive.

“What I’ve heard is this is a great team and we have some wonderful returners,” she said. “It looks like we have quite a few girls who can play multiple positions. I’m excited to come in and work with this group.”