Beverly Smith Coaching Tree Grows

COLUMBIA, S.C. —- Following the announcement of former graduate manager Kara Shutt’s hiring as volunteer assistant coach at Ole Miss on Wednesday, South Carolina head coach Beverly Smith’s coaching tree has grown to nine former players, assistant coaches or managers who are now coaching at the Division I level.
 
Shutt joins current Carolina assistant coach and former player Kaela Jackson as the second member of Smith’s coaching tree in the SEC.
 
Before joining the Gamecocks, Shutt was named a 2018 NFCA Third Team All-American, becoming just the second player in Elon history to receive All-American laurels.
 
“I’m truly thankful for the time I spent at the University of South Carolina and with Gamecock softball,” Shutt said. “I cannot thank Coach Bev and her staff enough for giving me the opportunity to learn and expand my knowledge of the game of softball. I’m very excited to join the Ole Miss softball staff and believe my experiences with Gamecock softball have prepared me for this new journey and the beginning of my coaching career.”
 
Smith’s coaching tree also includes former assistant coach Janelle Breneman (UNCG head coach), former player and manager Ashley Chastain (Charlotte head coach), former volunteer assistant coach Laura Trout (Illinois assistant coach), former player and manager Chelsea Hawkins (Middle Tennessee State assistant coach), former player Codee Yeske (Austin Peay assistant coach), former volunteer assistant coach Matt Stewart (Campbell assistant coach) and former volunteer assistant coach Taylor Wike (Charlotte assistant coach).
 
“She’s always treated her athletes as people first,” Jackson said recently during Smith’s 10-year anniversary celebration. “She will go out of her way to make you feel like you matter and encourages the team to do the same amongst each other. She invests in her players to empower them to become their best selves. She can challenge you, push you, and put you through tough practices, fitness tests, and games… but at the end of the day, she will ask you to take a walk around the track, build you back up, and motivate you to come back stronger tomorrow. You know after going on that walk that Coach had your back. I hope I can give my players that same confidence.”
 
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FULL BEVERLY SMITH COACHING TREE
Janelle Breneman – UNCG Head Coach – Carolina assistant coach (2011-12)
Ashley Chastain – Charlotte Head Coach – Player (2011), Manager (2012-13)
Kaela Jackson – Carolina Assistant Coach – Player (2010-11), Volunteer assistant coach (2015)
Laura Trout – Illinois Assistant Coach – Volunteer assistant coach (2013-14)
Chelsea Hawkins – Middle Tennessee State Assistant Coach – Player (2011-14), Manager (2015)
Codee Yeske – Austin Peay Assistant Coach – Player (2012-14)
Matt Stewart – Campbell Assistant Coach – Volunteer assistant coach (2016-18)
Taylor Wike – Charlotte Assistant Coach – Volunteer assistant coach (2019)
Kara Shutt – Ole Miss Volunteer Assistant Coach – Graduate manager (2019-20)