This week On Deck we sit down with the head coach of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Kelley Green. Coach Green is in her 10th season in-charge at CCU and has lead the transition of the program from the Big South Conference to the Sun Belt Conference. The Chants have consistently dialed up winning seasons during Green’s time leading the program. The 2012 season has proven to be the Chants most successful season under Kelley as the program collected 44 wins on the season while winning the Big South Conference Tournament Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to leading Coastal Carolina, Green spent 10 seasons as head coach at Lock Haven University. While at LHU she led the Eagles to two Division II National Championships in in 2006 and 2009 while posting a 346-134 record. Before landing at Lock Haven she served as an assistant coach at Penn State. Green a standout All-Big 10 and All-American athlete at Northwestern University also competed professionally for the Virginia Roadsters.
Lee Dobbins: Coach Green you took over the program at Coastal Carolina after the retirement of Coach Jess Dannelly after he lead the program for 22 season stretch; Along with that transition you have gone through a lot of expansion and growth in the CCU Athletic Department, including transition from the smaller Big South Conference to a Group of Five Conference in the Sun Belt. In your 10 years at Coastal how has this growth and expansion helped you transition the program into what we see today?
Kelley Green: Our transition from the Big South to the Sun Belt has been exciting. We certainly enjoyed our time in the Big South and experienced so much success over the years. Moving to the Sun Belt certainly has had its challenges early on, but we see those as opportunities. We now feel we are building a program to get to Oklahoma City and that’s exciting. Our President has backed this move 100% and provided us with the resources necessary to reach new heights. We have had upgrades to our facilities, increased budgets and overwhelming support. All the programs here at Coastal have benefited tremendously. The growth on both the academic and athletic side is impressive and Conway is a great place to be. This allows us to target a new level of recruit as we move forward. We feel like we are building something very special here and it’s fantastic to be part of it.
Dobbins: Over the last few years recruiting has been a major topic of conversation particularly when it comes to the average (young) age that Prospective Student Athletes are being recruited and making verbal commitments to programs. Legislation has now been initiated restricting contact/offers to PSAs until the start of their junior years in high school. Talk a bit about that change in the recruiting dynamic since that legislation has been adopted. Has it slowed the process and made balancing recruiting better? Has the legislation been effective in curving earlier recruiting in any way?
Green: The new recruiting rule is such a mindful move for our sport. I’m not sure that we have seen the affects yet in our program because we had recruiting classes committed for a while before the rule, but we expect it to be a very positive change. We now have more time to track athletes and see them develop. It benefits the prospect even more though. A ninth or 10th grader no longer has to stress about making a college decision. They can just play, work on their skills and develop on and off the field. They will now be making their decisions at a higher level of maturity.
Dobbins: Being in the hotbed area that encompasses “SEC/ACC Country”, what have you seen as both challenges and benefits in recruiting to a school like Coastal that falls very much in-between that Mid-Major and Power 5 level institute? What have you and your staff done to carve out your recruiting niche to get top-recruits to pick the Chanticleers?
Green: It certainly is tough to recruit against Power 5 and other top mid-major programs. Coastal offers such a unique experience though so we use that to our advantage. We may be considered a mid-major, but when you are on campus, you get a big-time feel. We have so much pride on campus. We have teal and Chanticleers everywhere! Our facilities are top notch and there are certainly not many universities that can boast being so close to the beach. You just can’t go wrong with palm trees in the outfield. The entire campus is so beautiful. The people are the best part about Coastal though. From our President to all our support staff, people truly care about each other. Once we get a recruit on campus, they feel this right away.
Dobbins: I recently heard a phrase directly referenced to collegiate softball; “The era of the free agent has begun.” This seemingly is referencing the latest NCAA Transfer Legislation that eliminates the permission-to-contact process. The transfer rates in the last five years had seemingly already been at an all-time high. Recently however, it seems the flood gates have opened directly connected with this legislation. What are your thoughts on this legislation and its effect on the collegiate game?
Green: It’s disappointing to see the transfer rates so high. I struggle with formulating an opinion on this because I believe everyone should be able to make choices to make their life better, but I also feel like there is a lack of commitment now. I see both sides of it. Each transfer has their own reason and individual story though, so I try not to judge. Transfer rates were already increasing before the new rule, but now it will skyrocket. That’s the reality of it, so we will be prepared to adjust as necessary.
Dobbins: Collegiate Softball has boomed in popularity in the last 10 years and this seems to be based on its visibility on different media outlets (TV, online, Social Media, etc.). How has that dynamic of visibility has changed the way the game is played and how you run your program? What is the next progression of promotion of the game/advancement would you like to see as a head coach?
Green: Access to more media has only improved our game. I learn so much from watching what others are doing. My phone is filled with hitting GIFs! Scouting an opponent is so easy now as I usually just have to turn on ESPN to find games. We definitely go into a game more prepared than ever. Of course, so do our opponents! The media growth in our game will only continue to make our sport better too. With all the access kids have now, they will grow up watching the best hitters and pitchers and look to emulate. This will lead to an even greater skill set over a wider population of athletes. I hope the see the increased coverage leads to more opportunities professionally in our sport. I would also expect to see replay emerge in the next few years throughout all divisions and conferences.