Middle Tennessee Head Softball Coach Jeff Breeden has announced the addition of Chelsea Hawkins as an assistant coach.
"We are glad to hire a coach of her caliber," said Breeden. "She had a great career as a player at South Carolina. The numbers from her hitters at Gardner Webb speak for themselves. Chelsea is a high energy coach that fits our program perfectly."
Hawkins will replace Ashley Lane, who was recently hired as an assistant coach at Louisville. Hawkins comes to MT from Gardner-Webb by way of UNC Greensboro and South Carolina. She will work with the hitters and infielders.
"I am incredibly excited and even more appreciative for the opportunity that Coach Breeden has given me," Hawkins said. "He has created a championship culture within Middle Tennessee softball and I can't wait to continue building upon that. Also, I would like to thank the administration for the opportunity to be a part of the Middle Tennessee family and the winning tradition the athletic department as a whole has created. I can't wait to meet the team and get started."
Hawkins was instrumental in Gardner-Webb's success at the plate, coaching Katie Prebble, the Big South Conference Player of the Year, Big South Freshman of the Year, NFCA First-Team Mid-Atlantic Region selection, a top-10 finalist for the NFCA/Shutt Sports Freshman of the Year award and an NFCA Third Team All-America selection. Thanks to Hawkins, Prebble broke the team's single-season home run record and the Big South Conference freshman home run record (23). As a team, Hawkins led the Bulldogs to a Big South leading .312 batting average.
Hawkins also spent time as an assistant coach at UNC Greensboro. She helped the Spartans to 33 wins in 2016 - including a 24-9 mark at home.
During her season in Greensboro, Hawkins worked with the Spartans' offense and outfielders. UNC Greensboro batted .300 as a team in 2016 with 83 doubles, 61 home runs and 282 RBI. The Spartans scored 310 runs on the season, with Designated Player Lindsay Thomas leading the way with a .411 average, 18 doubles, 16 home runs and 40 RBI.
Hawkins spent the 2015 season as a graduate manager at her alma mater, South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks with outfield play and strategy, as well as assisting the staff with post-game scouting reports and video. She was also involved with the team's batting practice and offensive workouts.
As a student-athlete, Hawkins was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks, belting 21 home runs during her time at the plate.
She batted .279 for her career with 29 doubles, 21 home runs, 85 runs scored and 90 RBI. Hawkins finished her career with the third-highest home run total in school history and ranked in the top-15 in career slugging percentage (.464), RBI, RBI per game and walks.
Hawkins also finished with a .983 career fielding percentage in the outfield and ranked sixth in South Carolina history with 12 outfield assists. She started 172 career games.
As a sophomore, Hawkins hit .309 and slugged .537 to earn NFCA All-South Region honors. She was also a standout in the classroom as well, earning SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition four times.
Hawkins was a three-time All-State selection at Wren (S.C.) High School.
