Ashley Chastain recalls first phone call from Ray Tanner

New South Carolina softball head coach Ashley Chastain had a great phone call with athletic director Ray Tanner.

As a South Carolina alum, she had a prior relationship with Tanner, who’s been the AD for a decade. He was also the baseball head coach for 16 seasons until going into administration work.

When he had to hire a new softball coach this cycle, he knew Chastain was the only woman for the job.

“I don’t know if you can prepare for that phone call,” Chastain said. “I’m a very ‘Be Where Your Feet Are At’ type of person and so you know, I was very engulfed in my job at that point when I got the call from Coach Tanner. But yeah, I’m really excited to answer the phone and then obviously, wheels start spinning on the opportunity. And, you know, we had a really great conversation. 

“We met for four hours Sunday night and just really talked about the program and talked about, you know, the vision that we have for the program and so, yeah, it was really great conversation. I haven’t seen coach Tanner in a really long time. So it was really great to, you know, just be able to talk to him about what he’s done here since he became the athletic director. And so we just had a really great conversation and you know, yeah, I was like, thrilled to get the phone call.”

Chastain coached the Charlotte 49ers over the last five years, going 154-96 and earned two NCAA tournament berths.

“Ashley is the right choice to take our softball program to the next level,” Tanner said in a statement. “She has had success in every stop of her coaching career. It is exciting to bring back a South Carolina alum to lead our softball program.”

Chastain played softball at South Carolina from 2009-11, leading the team in starts, innings pitched and ERA as a junior. She is the first Gamecocks alumnus to be named head coach since Boo Major was named the equestrian head coach in 1998.

“I am honored and excited to return to the University of South Carolina to lead this program,” Chastain said when she was hired. “I am extremely grateful to Coach Tanner for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. As an alumna, this university and program hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to building on its proud tradition. 

“The SEC is the premier league of collegiate softball and my focus will be on fostering excellence within every aspect of the program to compete at the top of our conference and win championships. I look forward to connecting with Gamecock Nation and filling Carolina Softball Stadium with the best fans in the country.”