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Potential candidates for the Auburn head coaching job

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby:Brady Vernon•05/14/24•

BradyVernon

mick
Courtesy of Auburn Athletics

In late March, Auburn announced softball coach Mickey Dean would step down at the end of the 2024 season. Auburn being one of the lucrative 15 SEC coaching jobs is the biggest opening thus far and could cause quite the domino effect. The Tigers’ administration led by  Athletic Director John Cohen will likely move quickly to fill the position.

SOFTBALL AMERICA HEAD COACHING CAROUSEL 

Chris Malveaux, Tennesee assistant coach 

The Lady Vols hitting coach is well-experienced and well-respected. Malveaux has spent time on the Missouri, Louisiana, Kansas, and Bradley staff and served as the head coach of McNeese throughout his career. Malveaux is a good recruiter as well that can help spark the offense in Auburn.

Steve Singleton, Texas associate head coach

Singleton, the Longhorns’ hitting coach, has done an incredible job in Austin. After his baseball career, Singleton joined the Texas staff in 2019. He’s been instrumental in the offensive productivity of the Longhorns’ underclassmen that have helped Texas become one of the best teams in the nation this year. He is considered to be a young star and one that would be worth taking a chance on despite the lack of head coaching experience.

Pete D’Amour, Virginia Tech head coach 

D’Amour has transformed Virginia Tech into one of the premier programs of the ACC. He has proven that he can develop both hitters and pitchers during his time with the Hokies. D’Amour would likely boost Auburn offensively, an area the Tigers have struggled in for years while finding high-caliber pitchers like the Maddie Pentas of the world. It’s worth noting that Kentucky, a fellow SEC school, just hired away Virginia Tech’s women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks and that D’Amour has spent time in the SEC as an assistant at Missouri.

Ashley Chastain, Charlotte head coach

Chastain has roots in the SEC having pitched at South Carolina and serving as the Ole Miss pitching coach before accepting the Charlotte job before the 2020 season. She has now led the Niners to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the only two in program history. Her roots are in pitching but she has also had stellar bats in Kassidy Krupit, Bailey ‘Boo’ Vannoy and Arianna Rodi. Auburn previously went the Mid-Major route with its hire of Dean.

Chastain has withdrawn her name from the position per sources to Softball America

Kenny Gajewski, Oklahoma State head coach 

Gajewski would be the home run hire and quite the swing to take. He has built one of the best teams year in and year out in Stillwater. However, it’s also worth considering how conference realignment factors in. Oklahoma and Texas are departing for the SEC, does it make sense for Gajewski to follow suit? One of the best at using the transfer portal, Gajewski could seemingly spring Auburn back to a Women’s College World Series roster rather quickly.

Softball America confirmed the report from Stillwater News Press that Gajewski has withdrawn his name from the position 

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