1. How long have you been working at Chapman / how did you get here?

I started at Chapman as an assistant for my dad in 1985. Which was hard but also awesome… Something I will always cherish. I came to Chapman because I was told to play with a torn ACL or pack my bags… I turned down my full ride and packed my bags… I only had 1 year left to play, so I was not sure where I wanted to finish my career. After my surgery I decided I wanted to stay close to the friends I had made, so I decided to come to Chapman and play for my dad. Chapman athletics was D2 at the time. Our team made it to regionals at CSU Northridge. But we got knocked out. One great thing that happened during my red shirt year and my final season, I became a student-athlete. When I was at Fullerton, I was there to play softball. School was something I had to do in order to play softball. I guess in a way Chapman saved me, I would have been done playing at Fullerton with no degree. After I was done playing my final season at Chapman, I was asked to stay on and become the assistant for my dad. We agreed I would do most of the on-field work and he would do the paperwork. It worked out pretty well, we stuck together for 12 years. He named me Co-Head coach before the 1994 season. My dad had a stroke during the 1997 season. It was between the regular season and regionals. That was my first taste of being a head coach by myself.

  1. What’s your favorite story from working at Chapman?

I have 35 years of stories 😊. Road trips before cell phones and getting separated (vans). And my dad always had the money for dinner. Many exciting games and ends to games. We put nationals behind by 3 hours because we played the first game 18 inns. And won. But then the girls are out starting the wave for all these fans they don’t know later that night. Got the place hopping. Seeing my girls signing autographs for little girls, that want to be just like them some day! Line Dancing during pre-game, that stayed for about 15 years. Taking a trip to UT Tyler and having it snow for 3 days and cancel all 6 games, tarps frozen to the ground, and losing our pitcher to a broken leg because she slipped walking to dinner. Staying at a condo on the sand in Panama City Beach Florida and having the parents cook for us every night. Wearing shower caps during warmups at regionals during pre-game. On and on!!

  1. What’s the best part about working with student-athletes at Chapman?

Chapman brings in great students and I think we have figured out what kind of student athlete fits the Chapman family. These kids are hard working, passionate, driven and know how to think for themselves. These students have made me a better person just by working with them. I’ve learned a ton from my athletes through the years. They are great people and it’s a joy having them as part of our Chapman softball program.

  1. What is the best moment from your couple of years of coaching at Chapman?

Winning the National Championship- Going to Disneyland as a team….It’s also great to see all these former players and their families. Since I’ve been here for awhile I have some that have 4 or 5 kids and some that just had their first babies during Covid. It is such a joy watching their families grow. One thing I think about a lot is the fact that some of my players are still best friends. They might not have even known each other if it wasn’t for us recruiting them and bringing them together for their college careers (softball too). That’s pretty cool to see how many still can count on their teammates to be there for them.

  1. Anything else you want to say to alumni?

There is a lot of history in Chapman Softball. All of our alumni has formed our foundation for the current players to follow. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for everything they have done and continue to do for Chapman softball. We are trying hard to live up to the traditions they have set.  When we get back to normal, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at a game!!