Legendary Team USA slugger Crystl Bustos has been named an assistant coach at Texas A&M-Commerce.
Bustos owns a trio of Olympic medals, including gold medals from the 2000 and 2004 Games and a silver medal in 2008. She owns the Olympic softball record for most home runs of any player in Games history and was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame and the National Softball Hall of Fame.
Known primarily for her offensive endeavors as a player, Bustos’ coaching experience includes time on staff at Mt. SAC College, as well as with both the Texas Charge and Akron Racers in the now-defunct National Pro Fastpitch league. She also owns the Ruthless Softball travel ball organization.
In 2008 at the Beijing Olympics, Bustos was 11-22 at the plate and led Team USA with six home runs and 10 RBIs. Both her home run and RBI totals that year remain Olympic records. Bustos has hit 14 home runs in her three Olympic appearances, which is the record among all Olympic softball hitters. Bustos played collegiately for Palm Beach Community College, winning two NJCAA National Championships and being named the NJCAA Player of the Year in both seasons.
Texas A&M-Commerce will compete in their first year as a Division 1 program in 2023. The Lions moved up from Division 2 on July 1st and joined the Southland Conference.
