NPF Short-Stop Signs on to Coach with Top University
September 3, 2010 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
NPF Diamonds News Release
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State head softball coach Jacquie Joseph announced today (September 2) the hiring of Chelsea Spencer as assistant coach. Spencer arrives at Michigan State having served as the head coach at Chabot Community College since 2006. Spencer will primarily work with the infielders and serve as the recruiting coordinator and assist in team travel.
"Chelsea Spencer is a proven winner," said Joseph. "She has won at every level as a player, both collegiately and professionally. Chelsea brings with her that fearless competitor mentality that we are striving for. But above all, Chelsea brings with her a solid academic background from California, which is very important to me at Michigan State University and in the Big Ten Conference."
At Chabot, Spencer was named the 2009 Coast Conference North Division Coach of the Year while compiling a 24-21 overall record. First baseman Rachel Kroneder was named the 2009 Player of the Year for the Coast Conference North and earned Female Athlete of the Year honors at Chabot College under Spencer's tutelage. Spencer was also instrumental in the development and design of the Gladiators' softball stadium.
In 2008, Spencer was named a coach at Holy Names University as a graduate assistant. The Hawks, in their first season of competition, broke into the top-20 of the NAIA rankings with the aid of Spencer.
Spencer got her first opportunity in coaching when she was the Alameda High School head junior varsity coach in 2006. The Hornets posted an undefeated recorded in Spencer's lone season at the helm. Spencer also assisted the varsity team during practices, games and in the physical training plans.
The California-Berkley graduate started 277 consecutive games for the Golden Bears throughout her career, good enough for third all-time in program history. Spencer started her collegiate career in stellar fashion as she blasted a homer in the fifth inning against Florida State to give Cal a 1-0 victory in the 2002 Women's College World Series en route to the title her freshman season. The next two seasons Cal would finish runner-up at the WCWS (2003, 2004). Following her junior season, Spencer was honored as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association Third-Team All-American after she was second on the team in RBIs (36) and home runs (8) and third in doubles (9), total bases (95) and stolen bases (17).
After exhausting her collegiate eligibility, Spencer was drafted in the third round of the 2005 National Pro Fastpitch League draft by the New York Juggernauts. The 2009 season saw Spencer once again reach the pinnacle of her game as she won the NPF's Cowles Cup as a member of the Rockford Thunder. From 2006-08, Spencer was a member of the Philadelphia Force of the NPF. Spencer earned a spot on the All-NPF team on three separate occasions (2006-07, 2009). Spencer graduated from Cal in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in American studies and is the process of earning her master's degree in kinesiology at St. Mary's College of California.
Spencer replaces Kathryn Gleason.
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from September 3, 2010
- NPF Short-Stop Signs on to Coach with Top University - NPF Diamonds
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