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An awful trend is developing in college athletics that needs to be stopped.
No, I’m not talking about the effects of the H1N1 virus on the health of athletic teams across the country. And no, I’m not talking about the discipline problems experienced by schools like Tennessee (armed robbery), Kansas (fight between basketball and football teams) and Oregon (“the punch”).
What I am talking about is softball.
More specifically, the fact that young women continue to sign on to play Division I softball at the University of Wisconsin for head coach Chandelle Schulte. I don’t know how Schulte does it, but against all odds, she continues to sign what appear to be high-quality athletes.
Maybe she brainwashes these young women into thinking back-to-back 40-loss seasons is a sign of a program on the rise. Or maybe they are just not aware of Schulte’s awful track record in her short tenure at Wisconsin.
Regardless of how she gets them to sign, it simply should not be allowed. A coach that posts back-to-back 40-loss seasons should be fired, not given the opportunity to destroy more collegiate softball careers.
When several players and coaches leave the team before or during the season (which has happened in each of the last two seasons), there’s only one person who deserves the blame: the head coach. Schulte is a polarizing figure to say the least.
The four latest victims… er, signees are Stephanie Peace, Mary Massei, Cassandra Darrah and Michelle Mueller. If I could give the four of them one piece of advice it would be this: get out while you still can and get as far away from Schulte as possible.
I’m sure any one of these four young women could find another suitor that isn’t an odds-on favorite to set a new school record for losses in 2010. And I’m sure any of them could have gone elsewhere, had it not been for Schulte’s surprisingly good recruiting skills.
For example, Peace is a three-time academic all-district, first team all-district and all-county athlete from New Braunfels, Texas. Last season, Peace helped lead Canyon High School to a Texas Class 4-A State Championship, earning Texas Girls Coaches Association and Texas Sportswriters Association All-State honors in the process.
Considering five schools in Texas and Oklahoma finished among the top 35 schools in the final National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll in 2009, I think it’s safe to say Peace could have done better staying closer to home.
What worries me most about her situation is Schulte’s quote in the press release.
“She’s very coachable,” Schulte said.
Coachable? Schulte doesn’t exactly have a great track record when it comes to “coaching” her players, especially in terms of hitting and pitching… and defense.
Just look at what she’s done with several players in her lineup over the last two years.
Schulte’s favorite thing to do is take an average or above average right-handed hitter with good speed and turn them into an out machine by forcing them to become a left-handed slap hitting specialist (Theresa Boruta and Jen Krueger, for example). It’s one of the top reasons the single-season strikeout record was shattered in the Schulte era.
Sure, it might be a good idea considering the short distance between bases in softball, but it just doesn’t work — at least not the way Schulte has done it.
Massei, an outfielder from Ruben Ayala High School in Chino Hills, Calif., earned All-Sierra League first team, All-Inland Valley first team and all-state second team honors in 2009, due in large part to her having Schulte’s favorite quality in a player.
“Mary Massei is probably one of the quickest kids that we’ve ever brought in,” Schulte said.
Schulte just doesn’t get it does she? The softball team does not need more speed. It needs a complete overhaul from hitting and pitching to defense and, obviously, coaching.
To be honest, sometimes I don’t know who I feel worse for, the players who sign on to play for Schulte, or Schulte herself, who just seems to be way in over her head.
Finally, Darrah and Mueller are from Iowa and Wisconsin, respectively, so it’s not surprising the two would go under the radar and end up as Badgers.
Unfortunately for them, however, Schulte’s system won’t help them showcase their abilities to the powerhouse programs that overlooked them in the recruiting process.
Darrah, for example, is an excellent pitcher and someone the UW head coach expects to contribute as a freshman. But once she gets settled into Schulte’s system of overworking pitchers beyond any reasonable expectations (see: Leah Vanevenhoven and Letty Olivarez in 2008), Darrah will have a tough time performing consistently well.
Mueller is perhaps the only unsurprising signee, as she is a La Crosse native. But due to her proximity to the program, I would have expected her to be more knowledgeable about Schulte’s terrible program and try to avoid UW at all costs in the near future.
With nearly a year until the four latest Wisconsin recruits join the program, I hope for their sake they reconsider playing for Schulte, even if it means not playing softball at all.
If not, I hope Schulte finally figures things out so their signing doesn’t end in another 40-loss season when they join the team for the 2011 season. However, since that isn’t likely to happen, these four young women better be prepared to lose… a lot.
Jordan is a senior majoring in journalism and political science. Do you agree the four latest Wisconsin recruits made a terrible mistake? Or do you think Schulte can turn it around? Send your thoughts to jschelling@badgerherald.com.
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this is good sports writing. congratulations on writing the best sports article i have ever read in my four years of reading the badger herald.
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Trying to take all of Bleach’s thunder, eh?
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Proof positive that if you are a female, that alone qualifies you to be a head softball coach in the Big Ten
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woooooowww this is low bro
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The truth is that Julia Wright gets the good recruits and sells the school. She is a great coach that the AD should give the job. She would turn the program around.
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Dont agree Wright is the right choice. She has as much to do with the lack of production as Schulte. Asst. head coach is a head coach. She coaches the same way and hasn’t lasted anywhere either,Kansas, Akron asked to leave both………? Problems all over the program. CLEAN HOUSE!!!!!! Well written article. Should break records again on replies. Keep telling the truth,Barry will take note sometime.
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“Destroy collegiate softball careers”? Did it ever occur to you that some of these young women would not be able to attend such an academically outstanding school such as UW, or even any college, without the scholarships offered by the softball coaching staff? In many cases these young women have been playing softball at an elite level for many many years with the hope they would be offered a scholarship at the college of the dreams as well as continue to play the sport they love. For women there is no dream of playing in the “major leagues” what with softball taken out of the Olympics. Even then that was reserved for the very elite…no matter which school you attended. I don’t know what the softball pro league pays but I would venture a guess and say not enough compared to what major league baseball pays. The point is, the recruits coming into play at UW know they will be getting a quality education. They will work hard for it….both in the classroom and on the field. Sure, if you asked any of the players I’m sure they would rather win than lose. In fact I’m sure each of the players are working hard to change that this season, but in the end it is the degree they earn that will give these young women more choices and options in life.
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Wright is poison just like Schulte. Both are clearly a poor judge of athletic ability, and what type of athletes it takes to be successful. Or perhaps they are able to recognize the talent, but then destroy it, once the talented young ladies sign. Schulte is a terrible hitting coach, just look at her team batting average…..disgusting!!! And Wright the defensive coach, has turned fluid, athletic athletes, into robots who appear to not think for themselves. These two individuals are running this program into the ground, with no sign of improvement. Every year it’s the same excuses….wait til next year. PLEASE!!! You both are a disgrace to coaching, and clearly have no idea what this game is about.
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Too stubborn to quit/too ignorant to realize her lack of leadership ability…the UW admins must realize it’s mistake and not be afraid to fire and get ready for a harassment suit due to orientation…Badger softball is not allowed to return to previous tourneys due to Schulte’s conduct and lack of professionalism…About May 1st, 2010 she will attempt to sell the admin regarding her next stellar crop and throw her present club under the bus again…If you notice her bio does not speak of any playing experience…”The Fixer” as she refers to herself has not represented herself or the university in a positive light…poor appearance…poor body language…poor communication skills…poor practice preparation…obvious coaching patterns in game situations…ancient split-grip offensive approach…bi-polar assistant head coach w/multiple personalities…blaming instead of correcting…not a great plan for success…Wake up Terri and Barry and realize your mistake…be the 1st Big 10 school to hire a male head coach and prosper…Majority of Top programs are now coached by men who eliminate all the nonsense…Who is accountable for this mess???Maybe the UW softball student/athlete’s will even get their meal money this season instead of funding the coaches beer fund…here we go again…all the hugs on Senior Day are superficial…Let’s keep losing 900 grand a year ‘cause we are afraid to make tough decisions…All this and we signed 1 Wisconsin girl….
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Wake up most of the top teams are coach by women who played the game. Yes there is a percentage men coaching Div 1 softball, but the percentages of women coaching is the majority. plese wake up and smell the coffee.
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I have not read an article as legitimately true and hilarious as this in my 4 years here at UW. Well Done!
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After reading this article, alls I can say is “what a sad situation” the recruit goes to what they think will be a great college softball team, and end up on a team with 45 game back to back losing seasons. How disheartening after all the hours and sacrifice the athlete puts in. Hopefully they have gotten a good scholarship and at least have gotten a good education at a quality institution. After all the complaints I heard last year regarding this same softball staff, I could not believe Coach Schulte’s contract was extended for another year! Let’s move on…….
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I feel the same way! Schulte and her staff should be removed. It’s unfortunate that the girls, and the rest of Badger Nation have to put up with the garbage year after year.
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Can anyone provide an explanation (reasonable or unreasonable), why Schulte is still there? Is she on a one year deal, or a multi year deal? When does her contract, if fact, expire? Is there some good reason why she is still there? Is it a question of money (does UW not want to pay her for her unexpired term)? Does the administration actually think she is providing some worthwhile service? Where is the line drawn, over which she must step, to terminate her relationship with the school. What is it going to take - another 40-15, or two more, or three more - how many more? Someone help me out here.
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She is on a 1 year extension.
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Can you tell us how that is - is that an extension to an original 4 year deal? She started in August 2005 (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons). 2010 will be her 5th year/season. Will she not receive another extension?
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Hopefully not!!!
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Schulte recruited my daughter while at college of charleston. She is a very good recruiter. However, careful research of her coaching record will reveal that almost all her success was accomplished with one pitcher on her teams at C of C and, before that, Charleston Southern. Most AD’s have no clue about the how college softball works. The sport is essentially about one player … the pitcher. One criteria for hiring a coach should be that he/she demonstrate success with at least two different girls in the circle.
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Big Ten AD’s have one criteria which is important to them. Is the candidate a FEMALE ?!! ! Past coaching record means nothing to them. This has been proven time and time again.
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I am amazed that anyone can look at the kid that wrote this article and take his evaluation of a division 1 sports program seriously. Now, if the article were detailing which video game or ice cream shop is the best, then I could see it. Don’t you have to be able to catch a ball yourself to have an opinion? The Badger Herald and a couple of bad seeds are clearly afraid that the team is improving. I understand that this kid wants to get attention like the bozo before him, but maybe he could at least think of a new article instead of copying off of the old dork’s paper.
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As a former player of Schulte’s I am appalled by this attempt of a well written article. Before you write an article please do some research before spouting out numbers and quotes from bio’s. When Schulte took over the program, they had just graduated their best players that were replaced by the former staff with kids that shouldn’t have even touched a Division 1 softball field. A 4 year contract for players who at best should be playing JuCo. So yes, she moved some positions and switched some to the left side. Boruta/Krueger had their most productive years after the switch. If UW was in Florida or Arizona, yes there would be an issue. UW has never had a softball tradition of being great, so let them take their lumps and do their jobs and build something! Are you worried football won’t get as many recruits because softball has had 2 40 loss seasons? Really? As for personal attacks on people…those are reserved for the ignorant. Which explains your article.
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Schulte is short lived and has little or no support. Schulte and her staff have had enough of an opportunity to as you say build something.UW is a great school and needs to do so much better. Florida, Arizona, it doesn’t matter we need to do better and she isn’t getting it done….This isn’t personal just the facts. Kids are only on a year to year, not a 4 year contract as you say.Check your facts. Only one contracted was Schulte and it’s done:-))))))
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Off to a running start in 2010 including a 15 point loss to Texas A&M!!!!
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Looks like the same story as previous two years. 15 run loss to Texas A&M ! Time for a change!!!!
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How do you give up 11 runs and face 16 batters in the first inning as a pitcher? You should be most dominant as a pitcher in the first inning.
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Three days in, Badgers are 0-5. Schulte’s gotta go! This program is a joke!
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A “15 point loss” hey? For future reference, if you think softball is scored in “points”, then you shouldn’t comment about D1 softball programs. As soon as you reach the level of a 5-year-old and you know that the proper term is “runs”, then you can come back to the blog. Did you see Favre score that homerun against the Packers?
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Let’s focus on the real problem here: Schulte. Awful coach, awful program. UW Athletic Department should be asking ‘how soon can we get her out of here?’
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I am focusing on the problem. The problem is people who don’t even know the very basics of softball commenting as though anyone should care what they think. By the way, I see they won three in a row. They must have scored some “points” this weekend.
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It’s too bad they followed up that 3-game win streak with a pair of losses. They should consider themselves fortunate the rain prevented two more losses Saturday.
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Say what you want about Schulte, but the moral of the story comes in the form of this quote, from a sports information director at another Big Ten University…”UW has become the laughing stock of the Big Ten as far as softball is concerned.” THAT is the problem! The program, which was NOT dead in 2005 (that was actually one of the UW’s best years, including an NCAA regional bid played IN MADISON, did not need reviving. That team had some great players on it, from all over the country. She took a mediocre but promising program and drove it completely into the ground. Some are saying that a change is coming, I would love to believe that because I care so much for this program, but based on what we’ve seen, that just isn’t going to happen. I wish the girls all the best this season, as I know the blood sweat and tears that goes into being an athlete at this level, but I am just really disappointed in the complete destruction of this program.
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The March 5 comment is obviously written by the kid who authored the article. Doesn’t UW have any journalistic integrity anymore? If you are going to make statements, then you should at least have the professionalism to claim them as your own and provide actual sourcing. I am ashamed as a UW journalism alum by this behavior.
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The truth hurts!!!!
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I heard that it is a done deal that Coach Schulte will be back for next season. I know that this will upset the Herald and its “reporters”. I believe she is due to sign the extension this month.
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That would suck for all of Badger Nation who wants a winner.
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Who in their right mind would give an extension to a coach that has brought UW Softball to its lowest point since the programs beginning. Well we should all be used to losing by now, so it won’t sting so much. Keep up the losing tradition in Badger Softball. Heck give her a ten year extension……..
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I WAS AT THE BADGERS FINAL HOME GAME ,AND SENIOR DAY I MIGHT ADD ONLY TO FIND OUT AFTER THEIR LOSS THAT COACH SCHULTE WAS FIRED AND THAT THE AWARDS BANQUET WAS CANCELLED. GREAT, THEY, UW GET THE FIRING RIGHT BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SENIORS AND PARENTS WHO TRAVELED FAR TO SEE THEIR DAUGHTERS PLAY AND ENJOY THE BANQUET AND THEIR DAY HAVE THAT TAKEN AWAY. WHY COULDNT UW WAIT TILL MONDAY TO FIRE HER?
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Schultes gone so who do you bloggers have lined up for the next coach?
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Schulte was fired on Tuesday; she did not inform the team until after the game on Saturday. The method of her communication was typical Schulte - low class, self serving, and without any regard whatsoever for her players. It was not the university that cancelled the year end banquet, it was Schulte - she thought only of herself and not anyone around her - no different than the way she coached the team. For the most part her players did not like Schulte; nevertheless, they bought her a gift and made up cards in anticipation of the year end get together. When asked if they could go and get them for presentation to the coaches, Schulte refused - typical. These kids don’t know how lucky they are.
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My family traveled hundreds of miles and spent hundreds of dollars to attend the year end banquet for the softball team. We wasted a great deal of money for my husband and I to attend only for the event to be cancelled moments before we were to attend. I have never experienced such a dispicable act by another human being in my life. To pretend that she cared for these girls is a slap in their faces. Perhaps she would like to reimburse us for our trip to Wisconsin. From what I hear she was still fighting until the end throwing catty remarks in their faces even on Saturday during the game. Shame on you Schulte.
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There are numerous coaches who would desire this position. Wisconsin athletics have numerous passionate followers as can be seen by these blog posts. UW athletics have top notch faciliites and tremendous academics and this program in it’s current state provides an opportunity to turn a sour situation into something sweet. I can think of a couple of deserving candidates within the State but even if UW decides to hire out of state there should be some extremely qualified candidates ready and willing to apply. I look forward to learning who will be annointed the next coach and can only hope that UW softball will receive someone who can right the ship and make this a contending team.