Beverly Smith Coaching Tree Grows Once More

COLUMBIA, S.C. —- Following the announcement of former volunteer assistant coach Chrissy Schoonmaker’s hiring as an assistant coach at Harvard on Thursday, South Carolina head coach Beverly Smith‘s coaching tree has grown to 10 former players, assistant coaches or managers who are now coaching at the Division I level.
 
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 joins the Crimson after spending the past year at Carolina as the Assistant Director of Development and with the SEC Network as a Color Analyst. Her coaching career spans more than 10 years, most recently spending five years as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut from 2014-2019.
 
During her time with the Huskies, Schoonmaker served as the first assistant and infield coach, where she helped the program to set multiple team records in 2019 and developed numerous AAC All-Conference selections.
 
After the 2019 season with UCONN, despite offers to remain in coaching, Schoonmaker was excited about an opportunity to come back to her alma mater in a different capacity.
 
“I whole heartedly believe this was an opportunity to come back to my alma mater, say thank you to those donors and supporters who directly contributed to my Carolina experience and make an impact for the current student-athletes here at South Carolina,” Schoonmaker told gamecocksonline’s Brad Muller last year. “It is a chance to help contribute at the place that built me and did so much for me as a person, student, and athlete. I also believe this opportunity here at Carolina offers the chance to grow professionally, stretch outside of my comfort zone and develop in the ever-changing world of college-athletics.

“There’s still that itch to make a difference with young people.”
 
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), former volunteer assistant coach Taylor Wike (Charlotte assistant coach) and former graduate manager Kara Shutt (Ole Miss volunteer 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)
Chrissy Schoonmaker – Harvard Assistant Coach – Player (2004-08), Volunteer assistant coach (2011-12)
Kara Shutt – Ole Miss Volunteer Assistant Coach – Graduate manager (2019-20)