July 26, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina’s volunteer assistant coach in softball Chrissy Schoonmaker will join Texas Tech as a full-time assistant coach, the Big 12 school announced today.
“This is a great step for Chrissy in her pursuit of her dream to coach,” remarked Gamecock head coach Beverly Smith. “She certainly proved her dedication to the profession and to the Gamecock softball program by volunteering for the last two seasons. Schoony brought a passion and energy to work every day that was infectious for everyone around her. She is forever a Gamecock, but I am excited for her opportunity with Shanon Hays and the Texas Tech Red Raider program.”
Schoonmaker worked with all aspects of the Gamecock program during her two years as part of Smith’s staff. The Gamecocks’ defense made huge strides in 2011, posting a SEC-best 26 double plays that year. The offense set five team records over the past two seasons, including new highs in home runs and slugging percentage in 2012.
“I am grateful for the seven years I spent at South Carolina, both as a player and a coach,” said Schoonmaker. “I have enjoyed my time at this wonderful university. I have grown so much from this experience and would like to thank Beverly Smith, Janelle Breneman and Calvin Beamon for the opportunity to learn from such a knowledgeable and professional staff. I would also like to thank my coach Joyce Compton for her guidance and tutelage to me as a student-athlete. I wouldn’t be where I am today without these exceptional individuals. Coaching at my alma mater was certainly a special experience and one that I will always treasure. I wish the staff, the student-athletes, and the softball program at South Carolina continued success. I am so excited to arrive in Lubbock and begin working with Texas Tech University and the student-athletes.”
A four-year letter-winner for the Gamecocks from 2004-08, Schoonmaker made the inaugural SEC All-Defensive Team in her senior season as a second baseman. She played all four infield positions and the outfield during her career, ranking second on the career charts at second base with a .972 fielding percentage in 99 games at that spot. Overall, she played in 187 contests, hitting eight home runs in her career.
Schoonmaker spent a year on the revenue development staff at South Carolina before taking a job at Lexington Medical Center, where she has worked for the last three years. She continued coaching, working as an assistant coach at Dreher High School in 2009 and as co-head coach in 2010, before returning to her alma mater as the volunteer assistant in 2011.
