CORPUS CHRISTI
- Head Coach Jake
Schumann of the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team
has been invited to serve as the head coach for the Akron Racers of
the National Pro Fastpitch League, Racers General Manager Joey
Arrietta announced today. Schumann, who is in his fourth year at
the helm of Islanders softball, will report to Akron when the
Islanders complete their 2011 season.
"This is an exciting opportunity
for me personally and should also be advantageous for Islanders
softball," Schumann said. "I believe this will open many doors to
our softball program and also will bring our name into another area
of the country. I would like to thank Joey Arrietta for giving me
this opportunity and also [Athletics Director] Tim
Fitzpatrick and President Killebrew for allowing me to take on
this endeavor."
Schumann, a native of Maplewood,
Minn., will return to the Midwest at the conclusion of the 2011
Islanders season. The Racers, who play a 44-game schedule from June
9-August 14, went24-25 a season ago. The team features some of the
top players in the world of professional softball, including the
2010 NPF Defensive Player of the Year, Lisa Modglin, and four-time
All-NPF third baseman, Jackie Pasquerella. The Racers also added
pitcher Kristina Thorson, the current NPF leader in career wins
with 43, in the offseason from the Chicago Bandits.
"I
have spent a lot of time looking for the best possible candidate
for our program." Arrietta commented. "I found a special person in
Jake Schumann who has the resume and the endorsement of some of the
best college coaches in the country. He and I connected on the
principles that produce positive results on the field and in the
community. I, too, would like to thank President Killebrew and AD
Fitzpatrick for supporting Coach Schumann's
appointment."
"We're excited for Coach Schumann
and our softball program," Fitzpatrick said. "The fact that he has
been selected for this great opportunity is indicative of both his
reputation as a coach and the emergence of our softball program as
well. I know that he will represent our University and department
well and that his presence in the professional ranks will expose
our program to more prospective student-athletes. We wish him the
very best."
Schumann and the Islanders are
coming off a 35-22 season in 2010, one of the top campaigns in
school history. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi will also take on a
challenging schedule in 2011, with three teams that participated in
the NCAA Tournament a year ago, including Women's College World
Series finalist Arizona, and 31 home games at Chapman Field. They have been picked to finish
fifth in the Southland this upcoming season and return six
preseason all-conference picks.
