Josh Bloomer Named Softball Assistant Coach

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina softball head coach Beverly Smith announced on Monday (June 20) the addition of Josh Bloomer as an assistant coach. Bloomer joins the Gamecocks fresh off an NCAA Super Regional appearance with Duke, and brings 18 years of coaching experience at all levels, including winning the 2021 ACC Tournament title.
 
He will serve as hitting coach for the Gamecocks, replacing Kaela Jackson who is stepping away from coaching to focus on her family.
 
“I am extremely excited to welcome Josh and his family to our staff,” Smith said. “I have watched Josh’s coaching career from afar and the players under his guidance have exceled offensively. He is a proven winner, elite recruiter, and will make an immediate impact on our team.”
 
During his three seasons at Duke, Bloomer helped the Blue Devils to a 111-27 record in that time, and was a part of two National Fastpitch Coaches Association Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year (2021 and 2022).
 
Under Bloomer, two Duke hitters earned NFCA All-American honors. Deja Davis was named the first All-American in program history in 2021 (Second Team) and Jameson Kavel followed suit this past season as a third team selection. His hitters each of the last two seasons at Duke set new program marks in nearly every offensive category including batting average, slugging, on-base percentage, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, total bases, walks, and stolen bases.
 
During the 2022 season, Bloomer’s offense propelled the Blue Devils to a 44-11 record, the No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and their first Super Regional appearance in program history. Duke’s offense ranked third in the nation in scoring, seventh in home runs and on-base percentage, and eighth in batting average.
 
Bloomer helped guide the Blue Devils to a 44-12 campaign in 2021, including the program’s first ACC Championship title, and earning the No. 13 national seed in their first NCAA appearance. 
 
Before his first season at Duke was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloomer helped the Blue Devils to a 23-4 record and the program’s first ranking in program history. Duke saw an offensive surge during the 2020 season, ranking 15th in doubles (44), 18th in scoring (6.59), 18th in slugging percentage (.528), 20th in triples per game (.37) and 26th in batting average (.319).
 
Bloomer came to Durham after seven seasons as the head coach at Louisville Male High School in Louisville, Kentucky, compiling a 458-147-4 mark. He ended his time at Male by guiding his squad to National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Kentucky state titles in 2019. His final team put together a 39-0 record and became the first team from the state of Kentucky to finish a season ranked No. 1 nationally. For his efforts, Bloomer was tabbed a finalist for USA Today’s National High School Coach of the Year award. He also led the Bulldogs to six regional championships, as well as state runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2017.
 
Prior to taking the helm at Louisville Male, Bloomer previously served as the head coach at Mercy Academy, also in Louisville, from 2005-12. He led his team to a state title in 2012 and finished as state runners-up twice.
 
A native of Kentucky, Bloomer received a master’s degree in education from the University of Kentucky in 2002. He and his wife Erin have two sons, Nate and Cole.
 
For the latest on South Carolina Softball, visit GamecockSoftball.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockSoftbll, Facebook /GamecockSoftball, and Instagram @GamecockSoftball.