PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Head coach Jay Nelson has announced the addition of Roya St. Clair as an assistant coach of the Rutgers softball program. A former Big Ten standout at the University of Michigan, St. Clair joins the staff following a stint as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to her time at UIC, St. Clair spent four seasons as a volunteer and assistant coach at Memphis.
“We are very fortunate to welcome Roya St. Clair to join our coaching staff. She comes to us with a great deal of coaching experience after coaching for four years at Memphis and another at UIC. As a player, she competed at Michigan and was a part of three Big Ten Championship teams. Additionally, she played in the NPF which is the top women’s softball league in the world. She is impressive and humble at the same time,” said Nelson.
“We are looking forward to the excitement of a new beginning with another new coach that has experience in winning championships. Championships are only won through working hard and doing the right things to prepare. When it comes to coaching I am confident that Roya will pay it forward by sharing the knowledge and temperament we need to be champions.”
On the UIC staff in 2016, St. Clair served as the hitting coaching, prepping the Flames as one of the top offensive teams in the conference en route to its second consecutive Horizon League regular season championship. The Flames tabbed a .286 batting average on the year with a mark of .318 against conference opponents. The lineup included five All-Horizon League performers, including Horizon League Freshman of the Year in Lexi Watts after the rookie registered a .362 batting average behind the leadership of St. Clair.
At Memphis, St. Clair started as a volunteer assistant in 2012 before being elevated to assistant coach in 2013. St. Clair guided the Tigers to 89 wins during her time while producing five all-conference selections, one NFCA All-Region honoree and the 2015 American Conference Rookie of the Year.
Prior to her move to Memphis, Tennessee, St. Clair played in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the Akron Racers for the 2011 season. She competed in 32 games and batted .229 with one home run, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored. After the season, she took part in the NPF Back-to-School Tour that went around the country playing exhibition games against college programs.
St. Clair played her college ball as a catcher at Big Ten power Michigan from 2007-2010, helping the Wolverines to three Big Ten titles and an appearance in the 2009 NCAA Women’s College World Series. She earned All-Big Ten First Team in 2009 and Third Team in 2010 for her success on the field.
During her four-year career at UM, St. Clair appeared in 224 games and started 190 behind the plate while she produced a .251 batting average with 153 hits, 30 doubles, 18 home runs and 111 RBIs. She hit a career-best .301 with 50 hits, 12 doubles, six home runs, and 33 RBIs during her junior campaign. In her final season, she broke career highs set the year prior in home runs (8) and RBIs (46) while she caught two perfect games and three no-hitters.
Off the field, St. Clair was awarded Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors in 2008 and 2009, in addition to receiving the 2007 and 2009 U-M Academic Athletic Achievement Award.
A native of Livonia, Michigan, St. Clair graduated from Michigan in 2010 with a degree in sports management.
