Charlotte head coach Ashley Chastain earned her 100th career win in an 11-0 triumph over Western Kentucky on Saturday.
As the 49ers’ leader celebrates her milestone victory, here are Five Fast Facts about her career.
1. She is in her fourth season as head coach.
Hired prior to the 2020 season, the Niners have reached the 30-win plateau in each of the two full seasons they’ve played under Chastain; the program is also on track to make it three straight years in 2023.
2. Her expertise is as a pitching coach.
Prior to beginning her career as a head coach, Chastain served as pitching coach at College of Charleston, Michigan State, and Ole Miss. She was part of the staff that led the Rebels to the Super Regionals in 2019.
3. She previously coached for the German National Team.
In 2012 and ’13, while playing professionally in Germany, Chastain served as a pitching coach for the German national team. She worked with the program ahead of the 2013 European Championship.
4. She played college softball at South Carolina.
After beginning her career at Columbus State, Chastain spent the final three seasons of her college playing career at South Carolina. During her junior season as a Gamecock, Chastain led the team in starts, innings pitched, and ERA, and she finished her career 11th in program history in career relief appearances in the circle.
5. She holds a .500 record against her alma mater as a head coach.
In four seasons as a head coach, Chastain’s Charlotte team has been scheduled to play South Carolina seven times, and has actually done so four times. In 2020, before the season’s abrupt cancellation, South Carolina won both games against Chastain and the Niners. In 2022 and 2023, the Niners evened the Chastain-era series, beating the Gamecocks in Columbia in ’22 and run-ruling their SEC foes at home to open the 2023 campaign.
