Valparaiso University Softball Camps

Coaching Staff

Head Coach Randy Schneider

The winningest coach in Valpo softball history, Randy Schneider guides Valparaiso into the 2009 campaign coming off the heels of a school-record 30 wins in 2008, a season for which he was honored as the Horizon League Co-Coach of the Year.

The 2008 Crusaders finished in second place in their first season of Horizon League play en route to the record number of victories.  Included among the 30 wins, which increased Schneider’s record tally at Valpo to 112, was the Crusaders’ first-ever victory over a ranked squad, a 7-5 win over #23 Maryland.  Valpo also defeated Big Ten rival Purdue for the fourth time in his five seasons at the helm while finishing tops in the nation in stolen bases/game.

A trio of Crusaders received All-Horizon League accolades in Valpo’s first season in the league in addition to Schneider’s recognition.  He also saw two athletes earn Academic All-District honors and seven players named NFCA Scholar-Athletes.  In the community, the Crusaders’ “I Need a Hug” program continued to grow to even greater heights.

Schneider got the 2007 Crusader team off to a 9-3 start, the best 12-game record in school history, en route to a then-program record tying 27 victories.  Schneider’s 2006 campaign was the most successful of his Valpo coaching career to that point, as he guided Valpo to 22 victories.  With his 21st win of the season, Schneider moved into first among Crusader head coaches in victories.

Schneider’s arrival on campus brought a 14-game turnaround in 2004, when the Brown and Gold won 21 games and earned a spot in the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament for the first time in five seasons.  The 2004 Crusaders even picked up a win at the conference tournament before falling in the championship game to Centenary.  Four players from that team received Mid-Con All-Tournament honors.

Schneider has coached 18 All-League players in his five years at the helm.  Five of his players were honored following the 2006 campaign, matching the most by any team in the Mid-Con, and five more received All-Conference notice in 2007.  During his tenure, the Crusaders have broken ten team single-season records and 19 individual single-season and career records.

Coach Schneider arrived at Valpo from Wartburg College in Iowa where he led the Knights to a 100-37-1 record in four seasons.  Wartburg won an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 2001, the first in the school’s history.  That same year he guided the Knights to the NCAA Division III Tournament where they finished as Central Region runner-up, and Schneider was named IIAC and Region Coach of the Year.

Schneider earned his bachelor’s degree from Wartburg in 1988 with a degree in physical education.  He and his wife Kristy have three children, Karli (8), Alec (5) and Bryn (3).

 
Assistant Coach Rachel Folden

Coach Rachel Folden begins her tenure at Valpo as the Crusader pitching and catching coach.

Folden comes to Valpo via Holy Names University, where she helped lead the Hawks to their first ever Cal-Pac conference championship and berth to the NAIA National Tournament.  Folden served as the hitting coach and the pitching/catching coach and watched as her players set records for ERA, strikeouts, wins, batting average, home runs, hits, on base percentage, doubles, triples, and slugging percentage.  Holy Names produced the Cal-Pac Pitcher, Player, Newcomer, Freshman, and Coaching Staff of the Year with Folden on staff.  The Hawks also produced an Honorable Mention All-American pitcher in 2009.

Folden was drafted as the 7th overall pick in National Pro Fastpitch by the Chicago Bandits.  Folden was named the 2008 Nokona Rookie of the Year and made the NPF All-Star team.  Her 2008 Chicago Bandits won the prestigious Cowles Cup as they knocked off the then Washington Glory in the championship game.

Prior to playing for the Bandits, Folden attended Marshall University, where Folden was a four-time NFCA Division I All-American catcher.  While a member of the Thundering Herd, Folden set numerous single season and career records for batting average, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and on base percentage.  She received her Bachelor's degree in History.

Assistant Coach Scott Goodwin

Coach Goodwin returns for his second year as Valpo's hitting coach. 

Goodwin helped the Crusaders set numerous school records in 2009, including batting average, runs scored, RBI, home runs, and slugging percentage.  Goodwin, a native of the Valparaiso area, brings a very fundamental and personal experience to the Crusader hitters, and it has paid dividends.  Valpo had seven girls hitting above the .300 clip under Goodwin's first year.

Says Head Coach Randy Schneider, "Coach Goodwin came in and set the bar high in his first year as a hitting coach.  He brings a great deal of passion and hard work to our softball program.  If you're judged by the end result, we have one of the best Valpo's ever seen."

Goodwin resides in Wanatah, IN with his wife and three children.
 

Steve Bartholomew
Strength and Conditioning Coach

 Steve is in his first year with the Crusader softball program as the strength and conditioning coach.  Steve is currently pursuing his MBA and also works as a graduate assistant for the track and field program.

"Steve brings a unique approach to our strength program!  He challenges our student-athletes everyday both physically and mentally. The results we are seeing from his unique approach are the best I have seen in my 17 years of softball!  All in all, Steve has truly made us better everyday."  Coach Schneider, Valparaiso Head Softball Coach

Members of the Valparaiso Softball Team

Members of the Valparaiso Softball Team will be participating in the coaching at the Valparaiso Softball Clinics 2010. Look for several players all throughout camp!