BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary has selected Amy Schmeckpeper as the ninth head softball coach in Marauders program history. A Coach of the Year recipient, Schmeckpeper brings three seasons of collegiate head coaching experience to the Marauders plus a decade of coaching on collegiate diamonds.

Schmeckpeper joins UMary after three seasons as the head coach at Garden City (KS) Community College (GCCC), where she led the Broncbusters to a division title while earning league coaching honors in her first season. Schmeckpeper coached 17 All-Region athletes at GCCC, including an All-American. Additionally, she coached 13 All-Region players in five seasons as the associate head coach at Lamar (CO) Community College.

"I am thrilled that Coach Schmeckpeper has agreed to become the next Marauders head softball coach," said Cooper Jones, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Mary. "Bringing someone with Amy's considerable talent and successes to Bismarck bodes very well for the future of our softball program and for our deserving scholar-athletes.

"Coach Schmeckpeper's history of success, not only as a recent Conference Coach of the Year selection, but her years as an assistant coach and collegiate softball scholar-athlete, were key factors in our decision. Her commitment to developing women of character, compassion and care are only matched by her drive to succeed on the diamond. We have found the perfect person to usher in this next era of Marauders softball and are thrilled Amy has chosen to join our team."
 

In her first season at Garden City Community College in 2021, Schmeckpeper led the Broncbusters to a mark of 25-20 overall. GCCC claimed the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) West Division Championship with a record of 17-9 to earn Schmeckpeper Jayhawk West Coach of the Year honors. Now she looks to bring that same success to the University of Mary softball team.

"I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to lead the Marauders softball team," said Schmeckpeper. "The University of Mary is a special place, and I can't wait to get started. I am ready to bring energy and passion to a program where we will be committed to excellence both on and off the field."

In addition to coaching 17 All-Region XI performers over three seasons, Schmeckpeper also had players claim 2021 Region IX Jayhawk West MVP and Freshman of the Year honors plus 3^rd team All-American accolades as a utility player. Offensively, the Broncbusters took major strides during Schmeckpeper's tenure, hitting at least .358 with a minimum on base percentage of .422 and a slugging percentage no lower than .567. Over her three seasons GCCC hit 178 home runs in 155 games.  

As the associate head coach at Lamar Community College for five seasons (2016-2020), Schmeckpeper coached 13 All-Region IX players, including three pitchers and a catcher, the 2017 Region IX Freshman of the Year, the 2018 Region IX Player of the Year, and a 3^rd team All-American utility player in 2018. She helped the Lady Lopes lower the team ERA from 8.15 to 3.52 over the span of four years while more than doubling the squad's strikeout rate from the circle.

A native of Boise, ID, Schmeckpeper began her collegiate coaching career at her alma mater, the University of Puget Sound. An assistant coach for two seasons (2013-15), she was responsible for the development of pitchers and catchers. Before that, she spent time as an assistant for the Under 18 Tacoma Royals club team and was the head coach of the Under 16 Boise Blast.

Schmeckpeper graduated from Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 2014 before earning a Master of Arts degree in Teaching in 2015. As a scholar-athlete her final two seasons, she started 69 of 70 games primarily playing catcher and the infield corners with the Puget Sound Loggers.
 

Since first taking to the diamond in 1987, the Marauders own 13 conference championships and have made seven national championship appearances.

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