Aug. 10, 2009
ATHENS, Ohio - Former Texas A&M softball player and National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) All-Star, Sharonda McDonald was hired as an assistant softball coach at Ohio University. McDonald will coach the `Cats' outfielders, while also working with hitting and speed training in addition to other responsibilities.
"I am very happy for Sharonda," said A&M head coach Jo Evans. "She contributed so much on and off the field during her time at A&M and she continues to bring honor to our program. I am proud of her accomplishments while competing in the NPF and for the sacrifices she has made to enter the coaching ranks and further her career. Coaching at Ohio will be a great opportunity for her and I know she will contribute a great deal to their program."
A four-time All-Big 12 selection and three-time all-region honoree as an Aggie, McDonald continues her coaching career in Athens after spending the past year as an assistant coach at Texas Southern University and two seasons in the NPF. With the Tigers, she served as the hitting, slapping and outfield coach while also working extensively with camps and recruiting efforts. McDonald has recently been playing professionally in Italy with the Fiorini Softball Club.
Prior to her stint at Texas Southern, the Houston, Texas, native, played two seasons for the Philadelphia Force of the NPF, where she was a teammate of current Ohio assistant Jenna Hall. In 2007, McDonald garnered All-NPF recognition after ranking fourth in the league in hitting at .331 and leading the Force in stolen bases with 13. She followed that up in 2008 by hitting .299 and swiping a team-high 16 bases.
At A&M, McDonald starred as an outfielder from 2004-07. During her collegiate career, she set and still holds Aggie single-season and career records for runs scored and stolen bases. Her 48 steals in 2005 led the nation and helped earn her the NFCA/adidias Golden Shoe Award given to the nation's top base runner. In addition, she holds the program's sixth-best career mark for hitting at .338 and is second all-time in hits with 249. The 2005 Big 12 Freshman of the Year also boasts the Aggies' top three single-season stolen base marks.
During McDonald's career, the Aggie softball team accumulated a record of 160-65, captured a Big 12 Championship in 2005 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament each year, including all the way to the Women's College World Series in 2007.