Saluki softball promotes Kenzi Tate to full-time assistant coach
08/09/2018 | 11:25:00 | Softball
Tate replaces Kelsey Gonzalez, who left the program after six seasons as both a player and an assistant coach.
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Coming off a second-straight trip to the MVC Tournament Championship game, the Southern Illinois softball team will keep a familiar face in the dugout as Kenzi Tate has been promoted to full-time assistant coach for the Salukis.
"We are so excited to have Kenzi move into our second assistant position," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "She was a unique player in that she could pitch, play a position and was a very good hitter. She has numerous skills that will help our program. She also was a fierce competitor and I really love having that type of mentality around our kids."
Tate came to SIU in 2015 as a graduate assistant with Southern's strength and conditioning staff. After receiving her master's degree in 2017, she joined Blaylock's staff as a volunteer assistant and helped with coaching the team's pitchers while also working with SIU's coaching staff to complete day-to-day practice responsibilities.
"It means a lot to finally join the Saluki coaching staff," Tate said. "I've been here several years in various capacities and have seen the program from different points of view as a strength and conditioning coach, a student and as an athlete. Being able to be a part of a program that has such a strong legacy and getting to work with one of the best coaching staffs in collegiate softball is truly a blessing."
Tate replaces Kelsey Gonzalez, who was a four-year player for Blaylock at SIU and spent the past two seasons as an assistant while earning her master's degree.
"I have to say that (Gonzalez) leaving after six years with the program was hard for me," Blaylock said. "She received her MBA and was ready to move into the working world. Having Kenzi here, who has been with us as a strength coach and as a volunteer assistant, has made the transition very smooth."
A native of Mount Vernon, Ill., Tate played her high school ball at Mount Vernon where she left as the program's all-time leader in most statistical categories including hits (157), doubles (43), home runs (22), RBIs (153), innings pitched (470), shutouts (28), strikeouts (689), wins (57) and ERA (.88). She ultimately chose to play collegiate softball at UT-Martin, where she played first base, third base and pitched from 2012-15.
She started all four years for the Skyhawks and led the Ohio Valley Conference in batting average, home runs and RBIs in 2013 while also going 20-6 as a pitcher. She was a two-time All-OVC selection and helped UT-Martin win both the OVC regular season and tournament titles in 2012.
Tate earned a bachelor's degree in human and health performance from UT-Martin in 2015 and went on to receive her master's of science in education from SIU in 2017.
"We are so excited to have Kenzi move into our second assistant position," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "She was a unique player in that she could pitch, play a position and was a very good hitter. She has numerous skills that will help our program. She also was a fierce competitor and I really love having that type of mentality around our kids."
Tate came to SIU in 2015 as a graduate assistant with Southern's strength and conditioning staff. After receiving her master's degree in 2017, she joined Blaylock's staff as a volunteer assistant and helped with coaching the team's pitchers while also working with SIU's coaching staff to complete day-to-day practice responsibilities.
"It means a lot to finally join the Saluki coaching staff," Tate said. "I've been here several years in various capacities and have seen the program from different points of view as a strength and conditioning coach, a student and as an athlete. Being able to be a part of a program that has such a strong legacy and getting to work with one of the best coaching staffs in collegiate softball is truly a blessing."
Tate replaces Kelsey Gonzalez, who was a four-year player for Blaylock at SIU and spent the past two seasons as an assistant while earning her master's degree.
"I have to say that (Gonzalez) leaving after six years with the program was hard for me," Blaylock said. "She received her MBA and was ready to move into the working world. Having Kenzi here, who has been with us as a strength coach and as a volunteer assistant, has made the transition very smooth."
A native of Mount Vernon, Ill., Tate played her high school ball at Mount Vernon where she left as the program's all-time leader in most statistical categories including hits (157), doubles (43), home runs (22), RBIs (153), innings pitched (470), shutouts (28), strikeouts (689), wins (57) and ERA (.88). She ultimately chose to play collegiate softball at UT-Martin, where she played first base, third base and pitched from 2012-15.
She started all four years for the Skyhawks and led the Ohio Valley Conference in batting average, home runs and RBIs in 2013 while also going 20-6 as a pitcher. She was a two-time All-OVC selection and helped UT-Martin win both the OVC regular season and tournament titles in 2012.
Tate earned a bachelor's degree in human and health performance from UT-Martin in 2015 and went on to receive her master's of science in education from SIU in 2017.
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