'This has always been my dream': Ashley Chastain describes emotions of becoming South Carolina's next head softball coach

As Ashley Chastain walked up the short amount of steps to the podium, tears began to swell in her eyes. This was the start of her dream coming true.

But it wasn’t always this way. For a period of time, she thought her life would be completely different than what it is now.

“My original plan was to be a high school history teacher. I had a high school history teacher that really inspired me, I think in my junior year of high school,” Chastain said.

Then she came to South Carolina to continue her college softball career in 2009. Once her time as a player came to an end, she realized maybe staying involved in the game was the next step for her.

“I came here to get a Bachelor’s (degree) in history and then stayed to get a secondary education degree in social studies. And then the game just never left me,” she said. “So then I started thinking about coaching and how that, I think, was really my path.”

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Since her playing days ended, she jumped right into coaching and has had a pretty successful career so far. Her latest accomplishments included leading Charlotte back to the postseason for the second straight year as the 49ers head coach. After five years there, she was ready to continue to build the program into a powerhouse.

Then she got a phone call from South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner. He was looking for a new head softball coach after letting Beverly Smith go just a few days prior.

“I don’t know if you can prepare for that phone call. I’m a very be where your feet are at type of person. I was very engulfed in my job at that point when I got the call from Coach Tanner,” Chastain said. “But I was really excited to answer the phone. And obviously, the wheels started spinning on the opportunity. We’ve had really great conversations, we met for four hours Sunday night and just really talked about the program and talked about the vision that we’ve for the program. It was a really great conversation. I was thrilled to get the phone call.”

Fast forward back to present day, walking up the steps to the podium with tears in her eyes. Chastain has now taken the reins to become the next head coach of South Carolina softball.

“This has always been my dream,” she said. “I’m just really thankful for the opportunity because you don’t get many chances to coach at your alma mater.”

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Chastain’s contract will be five years, ending June 30, 2029. She will make $300,000 annually. In a very competitive league, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the Gamecocks to consistently win in the SEC. But she doesn’t shy away from the challenge. And she hopes to build a real culture and winning program that many can be proud of.

“I don’t know if there’s another person more passionate about it than me. I think this is the best place in America, and I think we can make it such a destination for the best recruits in the country,” Chastain said.

“I want to give our players the experience I had, the experience that changed my life, changed the trajectory of my life and my career. I don’t know if you can bottle that up, that passion and enthusiasm. But I think I want every player that puts on a uniform to feel the same way that I did and now continue to do when I lead the program.”

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