South Carolina softball hires former pitcher Ashley Chastain as coach from Charlotte
COLUMBIA — Ashley Chastain is coming back home. Officially.
On Monday, news broke that Chastain was set to become the next South Carolina softball coach but it was pending approval from the board of trustees. On Tuesday, athletic director Ray Tanner announced the hire.
In the board of trustees meeting, it was revealed that Chastain will receive a 5-year contract worth $300,000.
Chastain has been the coach at Charlotte since 2019. She played softball for South Carolina from 2009-11 and was a graduate assistant in 2012.
“Ashley Chastain is the right choice to take our softball program to the next level,” Tanner said in a press release. “She has had success in every stop of her coaching career. It is exciting to bring back a South Carolina alum to lead our softball program.”
Since taking over the 49ers program, Chastain has a 154-96 overall record, with trips to the NCAA regionals the past two seasons. The 49ers won the 2023 Conference USA regular season title.
“I am honored and excited to return to the University of South Carolina to lead this program," Chastain said in the press release. "As an alumna, this university and program hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to building on its proud tradition.”
Mike Hill, director of athletics at Charlotte released a statement on Tuesday afternoon, speaking highly of Chastain's time with the 49ers.
"Our program enjoyed tremendous success under Ashley Chastain's leadership and we are grateful for the historic impact that she made," Hill wrote in a statement published to X, formerly known as Twitter. "She transformed Charlotte 49er softball into a championship program that competes on the national stage."
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Beverly Smith was fired after 14 seasons with South Carolina softball. She is the second-winningest coach in program history, going 461-323 overall. In SEC play, she was 102-219. South Carolina lost in the NCAA regional this season, the team's ninth NCAA appearance under Smith.
Chastain is only the third softball coach in the past 37 years at South Carolina. Smith was hired when Joyce Compton retired in 2010 after 24 years with the Gamecocks. Compton took them to the Women's College World Series twice and to the NCAA tournament 13 times. She is the program's all-time winningest coach with a 951-486 record.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina softball hires Ashley Chastain as coach from Charlotte
