Trio of Marshall Alumni Join Collegiate Coaching Ranks

Three former Marshall Thundering Herd players have all recently ventured into the collegiate coaching world.

Recently-graduated sluggers Aly Harrell and Saige Pye, as well as 2021 graduate Blakely Cheek, were all announced in new coaching roles in the last week.

Harrell, who graduated following the 2022 season after cementing her place as one of the best in Herd program history, will serve as the volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater. Former volunteer assistant Sam Boone is moving to a Director of Operations role, opening a spot for Harrell to join the staff.

During her playing career at Marshall, Harrell earned all-region honors in every season they were handed out during her career, totaling four nominations. She also earned first-team all-conference honors in every season of her career and holds Marshall program records for career walks and on-base percentage, while ranking in the top 10 in an additional sixteen categories. She finished her Herd career with a .390 batting average, 53 home runs, and 102 RBIs.

Pye, for her part, is the new volunteer assistant coach at Sacramento State. Also a 2022 graduate at Marshall, Pye was twice named an all-region honoree and finished her career with a .398 batting average and 34 career home runs. She also notched 102 RBIs and tied the Herd single-season program record with twenty home runs during the 2022 season. She leads the program record books in career slugging percentage with a .777 mark.

Cheek, formerly Blakely Burch during her playing career, has joined the staff at Jacksonville. She will be the Dolphins’ volunteer assistant coach, her first foray into college coaching. After initially beginning her career at USC Upstate, Cheek transferred to Marshall ahead of her sophomore season. A three-time CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll member, she finished tied for 6th in the nation with seven triples during the 2019 season.