Sports: Softball
UW looks toward future
Despite slow start, Schulte sees hope in incoming class
AMELIA KRUG/Herald photo
Sophomore Jen Krueger has been one of the few bright spots for Wisconsin, hitting .340 on the year.
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Also by Mike Singer:
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- Wisconsin recruits: Softball's new hope (April 27, 2009)
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- Softball looks to end 10-game losing streak (April 21, 2009)
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At Monday’s press conference, University of Wisconsin softball head coach Chandelle Schulte highlighted topics such as the team’s inconsistencies and the culture of the softball program, as well as optimism for the future.
Coming off two tough losses at the hands of Illinois and series splits with UW-Green Bay and Big Ten conference cellar-dweller Indiana, the team is undoubtedly eager to play again this upcoming Wednesday versus Northern Iowa.
“We’ve played really well against some of the better teams in the country and really poorly against some of the weaker teams, so really of all my years coaching, it’s less about our opponent than it is about us,” Schulte said.
Eyes on the future
While the softball team has certainly experienced it’s fair share of inconsistencies, the enormous production seen from many of the team’s underclassmen leaves a fair amount of optimism surrounding the softball program. Sophomore leadoff hitter Jen Krueger leads the Badgers with a stellar .340 batting average. While her bat does the most talking, her outstanding work in center field has spoken volumes as she has made numerous diving catches look routine. Her 16 stolen bases make her a threat to steal as well.
Freshman infielder Karla Powell has been on a tear recently as evidenced by her 4-for-4 performance at the plate against UW-Green Bay and her .304 batting average overall. Sophomore outfielder Ashley Hanewich also leads the team with seven extra base hits.
Schulte is keen to keep one eye on the future as eight new players are coming in next season but is careful not to disrespect the players that are already here and playing their final seasons.
“I don’t want to look to the future for them because that’s not fair to the kids that are here now, but they all understand we’re building towards the future,” Schulte said.
She reinforced the idea there are no quick fixes in sports over a sustained amount of time and that building a strong foundation for a solid program was far more important to her than having little immediate success.
“I underestimated how difficult of a process this would be to change this culture and get kids that could change a program,” Schulte said. “They get it [now], for the first time they see value in something bigger than themselves.”
Building tradition
The tradition of Wisconsin softball is not nearly as prestigious as that of football or basketball, somewhat due to the fact of longevity, but more so because of popularity. In trying to build a stronger appreciation for the sport, Schulte sought out Barry Alvarez, the face of Wisconsin athletics.
“I went up to Barry and asked, ‘Can I please borrow the design of your helmet for softball?’ He asked me, “Why?’ and I said, ‘Tradition,’” Schulte said.
It is the desire to achieve the level of success of other programs at Wisconsin that has earned Schulte the respect of the other coaches. After many top players in the country said no to Wisconsin, Schulte and her staff finally started hearing the response they wanted. The selling points Schulte highlighted were Wisconsin has not had any sustained success and these recruits were potentially going to become the tradition of Wisconsin softball instead of being churned out by an already-existing softball powerhouse.
“I think they chose to come to UW because they believe in a dream — they could’ve been part of a tradition that was already established,” Schulte said. “What I asked them to consider was do you want to be the tradition, so in recruiting, I said, ‘We’re looking for the face of Wisconsin softball and you could be it.’”
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Great article, great perspective. The Coach absolutely nailed it. This is about a cultural change and it takes time. Players and parents alike tend to look only at the short term record or recent publicity of a team when deciding where to play. The true trailblazers are kids that want to be a part of tradition and not just game to game stats.Taking nothing away from the current players since they are and have set the stage, but I am encouraged about what the UW team is going to look like in the next few years. We lose some great players after this season and the new recruits look like a nice complement. Not to mention the great education being provided.
The key to this team is the university’s/Athletic departments committment to the coaches. I have heard a lot of gossip about coaches leaving etc. Those rumors are very detrimental to the program’s integrity and the whole recruiting process. The University and Barry in particular needs to step up and make a statement of support - preferably a contract extension. These three coaches are exactly what the program needs - not some other crew to come in and take 4 years to meld. I say give them all three a 3 year extension and tell them to think BIG.
I was hoping to hear “UW coach tenders her resignation at Monday press conference.”
The future and cultural change? A THREE year extention? Makes one want to puke!!
Evidently, these posters have not read the real truth about the current culture of UW softball and the need for change. All you have to do is go to the “Why is Schulte still coach?” editorial and the record breaking 69 posters that are mostly screaming for “a cultural change.” Don’t ignore it, read and enjoy.
Barry must indeed step up, but show real support for and uphold the integrity of his athletic programs and say “Schulte & Company must go!”
Where can someone find information on the new recruits coming in?
UW Softball Fans,
In the last 7 days there has been a tremendous outcry of support for the UW softball program. The posts to the recent articles in the Badger Hearald have been all over the board and have shown how much passion there is for this program. Softball is a sport that inspires the players, coaches, parents, and fans. Unfortunately it does not inspire the people that really matter, Mr. Alvarez, Ms. Gawlick and the rest of the administration. This is a deteriorating program that obviously “matters” to a lot of us but “really doesn’t matter” to them. So, as much as the coaches, student athletes, fans, and the press think, what they think really doesn’t matter! Thanks UW.
UW Supporter with too high of expectations!
Just check out “Why is Schulte still coach?”. It says it all. She needs to go.
Schulte is in way over her head! She even admits it multiple times in her press conference that she had no idea how difficult it was going to be to come in and manage a softball program at the Big Ten level. This isn’t the Southern Conference where you can just bring in a bunch of juco transfers and make things happen. This is the Big Ten. She’s had her chance, she failed. All this building for the future stuff is crap! There is no evidence to provide from her 4 year run here that the program will go anywhere but further down the toilet. WAKE UP!
Get real, Schulte needs to go, and do it now. She has had her chance and proved without a doubt she is unqualified to coach at this level. I’ve been there and witnessed first hand her incompetence. An easy one is she doesn’t seem to know what a pinch runner is for, and doesn’t know anything about women and batting. Just do it, get rid of her and bring real hope to the program. Stop getting 4th and 5th stringers from other states and use some of the real talent right here at home. Its done in football and basketball, but not softball. Northern Iowa had almost 80% of their players from Iowa, and beat us twice easily.