OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss softball head coach Mike Smith named the first member of his new staff Monday, tabbing Jake Schumann to be the team’s associate head coach. Schumann comes to Ole Miss after serving as the head coach at Florida International University for each of the past three seasons.
“Jake’s going to bring great experience here,” Smith said. “He’s been a head coach for a number of years and he’s built programs similar to what we’re trying to do here. He’s been a good friend for a while, but he’s a great coach too. Being able to have the two of us collaborating with the experience we’ve had at different levels – we’ve kind of taken a similar path. His recruiting realm is east coast to west coast, especially down in Florida and Tennessee. The relationships he’s built, he’s going to be a huge godsend for this program and the direction we’re trying to head.”
In his three seasons as head coach for FIU, Schumann led the Panthers to an 88-75 record, and a 40-33 conference record.
In his final year at FIU, Schumann led the Panthers to a 33-20 record, the school’s best mark since 2010. Freshman first baseman Stephanie Texeira was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year, as well as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region first team selection. Texeira finished the season with the second highest single-season batting average in school history (.408), and the second most home runs in a year (11).
In the summer leading up to his third year at FIU, Schumann was an assistant coach for the USSSA Pride in the National Pro Fastpitch League. While with the Pride, Schumann coached a roster littered with legends of the game, including former Olympians and NCAA champions, such as Cat Osterman, Natasha Watley and Caitlin Lowe. The Pride went on to win the best-of-three championship series over the Chicago Bandits at the end of the season to claim the 2013 NPF Championship.
During his second season at FIU, Schumann guided the team to its longest winning streak in four years, and his pitching staff was highlighted by the Sun Belt Conference’s wins leader among freshmen. Among the team’s wins in 2013 included sweeps of the Atlantic Sun’s top-seeded North Florida, and the Mid-American Conference’s first-place Ball State, as well as an extra-inning victory over Florida Gulf Coast.
In 2012, his first season with the Panthers, Schumann led FIU to a 28-27 overall mark, and a 15-9 record in the Sun Belt Conference.
Prior to taking over the FIU program, Schumann spent four years as the head softball coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
During his tenure at Texas A&M-CC, Schumann amassed a record of 120-104, improving his team’s win total every season, culminating with a 41-19 record and a Southland Conference regular season championship in 2011. The team also advanced to the finals of the Southland Conference Tournament for the first time in school history, as Schumann was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year.
Additionally in 2011, Schumann became the Islanders’ all-time leader in wins, surpassing the previous mark of 112 held by former Ole Miss head coach Missy Dickerson. The 41 wins marked in 2011 was the second highest total in school history, and the highest since 2005.
In 2010, Schumann guided the Islanders to a 35-22 record and an appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament, marking Texas A&M-CC’s first postseason appearance since joining the Southland Conference. The 35 wins were tied for the third-most in school history, as the Islanders went 6-6 against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament, and had two wins over top-25 opponents, including victories over No. 15 Texas and No. 21 Texas A&M.
Schumann came to Texas A&M-CC from Texas A&M-Kingsville, where he served as head coach for four seasons. In his final season, he guided the team to a 34-22 record and a trip to NCAA Regionals. He left Texas A&M-Kingsville as the all-time winningest softball coach in school history with 120 victories.
During his time at Kingsville, Schumann guided the Javelinas to three 30-win seasons. He coached 19 All-Lone Star Conference players, a pitcher of the year, the school’s first-ever player of the year and the program’s first All-American.
Prior to arriving in Kingsville, Schumann spent two years as the head coach at Carl Albert State College (Okla.). Schumann inherited a squad that compiled a record of 19-35 the season before his arrival, and, with Schumann at the helm in 2002, Carl Albert State went 31-23 and was the Region II runner-up. The next season, the Vikings went 31-17 and finished third in the regional tournament while producing five all-region infielders.
Schumann began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Oklahoma. Northeastern posted a 101-16 record in his two seasons with the squad, and in 2000 the team finished third in the nation. In four seasons at Northeastern, Schumann coached 19 all-region players and six All-Americans.
In addition to his numerous coaching duties, Schumann has served as an athletic coordinator for the National Youth Sports Program sponsored by the NCAA.
He is a native of Maplewood, Minnesota, and he played baseball for two years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M before transferring to Ball State University. Schumann received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. Xavier University in Chicago, and also owns a secondary social studies certification from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Schumann received his master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in May 2006, and is married to the former Julie Campbell. The couple has two daughters, Jenna and Isla Jade.
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball and on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball.
