College Softball News

Assistant Coaches News and Notes

Posted on
Oregon Athletics

As the fall semester begins at many schools, there are still some significant coaching moves happening in the assistant ranks. Here is the most recent news.

Oregon Hires Justin Shults

Melyssa Lombardi’s first significant move as Oregon head coach was to hire Justin Shults as her hitting coach. Shults comes from Fresno State where he was an assistant coach for two seasons (2017-2018). Prior to Fresno State, Shults was at Miami (Ohio ) for two seasons.

Justin is the older brother of former Oklahoma All-American catcher Jessica Shults who Lombardi coached at Oklahoma (2010-2013). Jessica currently will begin her third season as assistant coach at Houston under former Sooner All-American Kristin Vesely.

Chelsey Barclay Promoted to Associate Head Coach

https://twitter.com/UNCSoftball/status/1029353892851720193

Barclay has been with the Tarheels since 2016 and is regarded as one of the top pitching coaches in the country. Before North Carolina, Barclay was at Cal Poly (2014-2015) and Marshall (2011-2013). Among pitchers that Barclay has coached are Andi Williamson (Marshall) and Sierra Hyland (Cal Poly), both of whom ended up getting drafted and played in the NPF. While at North Carolina, Barclay has coached Kendra Lynch who became a first-team All-ACC performer. Barclay also coached current Tarheel ace Brittany Pickett who helped the Heels reach the regional final in 2017.

Jeff Conrad Promoted to Associate Head Coach at North Florida

North Florida’s Head Coach Marcie Higgs announced the promotion of assistant coach Jeff Conrad to associate head coach and the hiring of Alex Lagesse as the new assistant coach.

Conrad has been an assistant with the Ospreys for three seasons, serving as the hitting coach. Under his guidance, the offense has rewritten the record books at UNF. Before UNF, Conrad was a volunteer coach at UCF under Renee Luers-Gillispie.  Conrad’s name was floated as a possible candidate at a couple of Power Five jobs this offseason, but sources tell Fastpitch News that Conrad feels good about what he and Coach Higgs are building at UNF.

Lagesse comes over after three seasons on the Michigan Wolverines staff as a volunteer coach. Lagesse was a pitcher at Valparaiso (2009-2012)  setting the single-season win record (22).

Lagesse replaces Shelby Turnier who left the program this summer to be a full-time employee of the Chicago Bandits.

Michael Steuerwald Going to Utah Valley as Associate Head Coach

Former Chicago Bandits head coach and  Scrap Yard Dawgs head coach and assistant general manager Michael Steuerwald will be involved in the college game. He will serve as an associate head coach under Head Coach T.J. Hubbard at Utah Valley.

Steuerwald helped lead the Scrap Yard Dawgs to the NPF Championship in 2017.

Before his time at the Scrap Yard, Steuerwald served as both a head and assistant coach for the Chicago Bandits (2010-2016). During his seven seasons with the Bandits, Steuerwald helped the team compile a 164-113 record, and three NPF championships (2011,2015,2016)

While coaching for the Chicago Bandits, Steuerwald also served as the assistant softball coach at Elon University from 2011 to 2013.

Anissa Urtez Joining Utah Valley as an Assistant

Former Utah Ute and current Scrap Yard player and Team Mexico National team player Anissa Urtez will join Utah Valley. This is Urtez’s first coaching job, and she will join Steuerwald on the Wolverines staff.

Rachel Fox named assistant at Samford

https://twitter.com/SamfordSB/status/1027282558365655041

A third member of the Scrap Yard to make a move in the last week is Rachel Fox who goes to Samford after one season as the pitching coach at the University of the Incarnate Word. Before her time at UIW, she spent the previous two seasons as the graduate assistant at Mississippi State.

Fox spent two seasons as the ace of the Texas A&M pitching staff.  During her senior campaign, she tossed 182 strikeouts in 232 innings of work as the Aggies’ Friday/Sunday starter, while recording a 3.14 ERA and a 23-14 record in 37 starts and 46 appearances, with four saves and six shutouts.  While with the Aggies, Fox led the squad to two NCAA Regional appearances in two seasons with the program.

In addition to her on-the-field accomplishments, Fox earned the honor of being added to the SEC Community Service Team, which looks to highlight a student-athlete from each school who gives back to their community in superior service efforts.  She was the 2015 recipient of the Margaret Rudder Community Service Award, which seeks to recognize and award those who significantly impact their community and, as a result, are themselves affected by that contribution. This award is designed to inspire student volunteerism on a continual basis, encouraging the utilization of various service organizations and the Leadership and Service Center.  She double majored while at Texas A&M, earning degrees in Communication and Leadership.

Shana Easley Leaves Head Coaching Position at Northern Colorado to Return to Arkansas as Volunteer Coach

https://twitter.com/RazorbackSB/status/1029465239442677761

Shana Easley steps down as head coach at Northern Colorado to return to her alma matter Arkansas as a volunteer coach. While the move may seem odd from the outside, keep two things in mind. First, Easley was a catcher at Arkansas from 2003-2006. So this is a homecoming. Second, with the possibility of the NCAA pushing the rule that the volunteer coach could become a full-time paying assistant job by next year, Easley could be in a position to have a full-time assistant coaching job at Arkansas one year from now.

Early word out of Northern Colorado tells Fastpitch News that Colorado Mesa’s Head Coach Ben Garcia is the early favorite for the job. But what remains to be seen. Garcia has built one of the top DII programs in the country.

Amy Bellisari and Nichole Andrade Joins Jenn Steele Staff at Delaware

Jenn Steele is bringing Nichole Andrade with her from Marshall while Bellisari comes over from DII Lynn where Bellisari was the Head Coach for seven seasons. Its a return to DI for Bellisari who Prior to Lynn, was an assistant coach at Bethune-Cookman (2006-2009). Bellisari played at Florida Atlantic (2001-2004).

Chelsea Hawkins Hired at Middle Tennessee

Chelsea Hawkins comes over from Gardner-Webb to take over the Middle Tennessee offense. Hawkins spent two seasons as the assistant coach at Gardner-Webb,  Under her guidance, the squad hit .312 as a unit in 2018, leading the Big South Conference and the only team in the conference to surpass a .300 average. Freshman Katie Prebble hit .438 with twenty-three home runs en route to all-American honors.

Hawkins’ coaching resume also includes a single-season stint on staff at UNC-Greensboro. She spent the 2015 season on staff at South Carolina, her alma mater, as a graduate manager.

To check out all the moves in the coaching industry this off-season. Just go here  at FastpitchNews for all the moves from the summer.

 

 

 

Related Items:, , , , , , , ,

Recommended for you

Fastpitch News ® (FPN) is dedicated to covering the sport of Women’s Fastpitch Softball. FPN provides news, analysis, opinions and coverage of College, High School, Professional and International Fastpitch leagues and organizations.

Trending

© Copyright Advanced Sports Media 2018, All Rights Reserved | Fastpitchnews.com 5855 Green Valley Circle, Suite 303, Culver City, CA 90230

To Top