Ken Eriksen, who guided the University of South Florida to the first Big East regular season title in any sport in school history, was named Big East softball coach of the year and freshman pitcher Capri Catalano was named the league’s rookie of the year Wednesday.

USF senior OF Kit Dunbar and junior 2B Britta Giddens also earned All-Big East first-team honors. Catalano, sophomore 1B JoJo Medina, of Chamberlain, and Courtney Mosch, a senior utility player, earned All-Big East second-team honors. 

“It was a nice team recognition,” Eriksen said. “What a year. I am so proud of this team considering what we have been through.”

Catalano is the second USF player to be named Big East rookie of the year. Junior P Cristi Ecks, who won the award in 2006, was the first. Catalano leads the league in ERA (0.96) and saves (six) and also leads the Bulls in six pitching categories.

No. 1 seeded USF (42-17, 16-4) opens Big East Tournament play Thursday against No. 8 seed Providence at 4 p.m. in Louisville, Ky. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.