July 1, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina softball program announces the hiring of former Spartanburg Methodist College head coach Rick Pauly to its staff to serve as the pitching coach.
Pauly has headed up the Spartanburg Methodist College program the past five seasons, leading the Pioneers to two straight NJCAA Division I World Series while compiling a record of 110-54-1. The 2008 and 2009 teams under Pauly’s direction captured Region X championships while also achieving a top-20 GPA among junior colleges nationally. The 2008 and 2009 Region X Coach of the Year had an exceptional pupil in freshman Lacey Dinney at SMC, as she struck out 116 batters while walking just 23 in 67 innings of work for the 2009 Pioneers. Laura Trout also stood out for SMC, making the NJCAA All-America for two straight years. Trout led the Pioneers with three triples and 38 runs batted in. Four of the players have signed with four-year institutions for 2010, including three at the NCAA Division I level.
“We are excited that a person with Rick’s experience has joined our staff,” said South Carolina head coach Joyce Compton. “He brings the knowledge and teaching abilities that will help develop our young pitching staff.”
Pauly has coached travel ball at different age levels, including with the Carolina Crush teams based in Greenville, S.C. Among his former pitching pupils, 20 of which have moved onto Division I scholarships, is former Gamecock standout Kate Pouliot. His daughter, Sarah Pauly, earned All-America status at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and has had a stellar career in National Pro Fastpitch as a three-time all-pro.
“I’m really excited about working with the talent level of the women that compete at South Carolina and in the SEC. I’m also excited about the opportunity of working with a hall of fame coach like Joyce Compton. I look forward to working with our pitching staff to become one of the elite groups in the SEC and nationally once again.”
Prior to moving to South Carolina, Pauly was an volunteer assistant coach in the Arizona high school ranks, leading nationally-ranked programs at both Mountain Point and Desert Vista high schools in Phoenix.
Pauly also played fastpitch for 30 years at various levels, including six years with “The Farm” team from Madison, Wis., a nationally-recognized ASA Men’s Major Open squad.
Pauly, married with two children, joins the staff with newly-promoted associate head coach Adrianna Baggetta to help head coach Joyce Compton during her upcoming 24th season at South Carolina.
