Houston Softball Welcomes Shanel Martin to Coaching Staff
8/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HOUSTON -- Houston Softball Head Coach Kyla Holas has added Shanel Martin as the newest Assistant Coach for the 2015-16 season.
"We look forward to having Shanel's expertise and personality added to our coaching staff. I believe her playing experience in the Big 12 and NPF will help improve our defense," Holas said. "She is a great addition to our staff environment. She has such enthusiasm for our game that I believe her attitude will be infectious.
"We have a large incoming class and I look forward to seeing her develop them defensively and academically. She has a strong passion towards the student-athlete experience and we are looking forward to her activities and plans."
Martin will work with the defense and will oversee the academic progress alongside the student-athlete development advisors as the Cougars focus to remain atop the conference in academic success. She will also assist with hitting, recruiting and team environment activities.
Martin comes to Houston after spending the last two years teaching Physical Education/Health at the Energy Institute High School in Humble, Texas.
Martin spent 2009-2013 at Texas Southern University as the Assistant Softball Coach. While with the program, she helped the Lady Tigers to four consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Championships (2010-2013). While at TSU, Martin worked with the outfielders and slap hitters. She was also responsible for recruiting, scouting and implemented a strength and conditioning program for the softball team.
Prior to her stint at TSU, Martin served as an assistant coach for South Dakota State University in 2009.
In her rookie season as a member of the New England Riptide, Martin broke the National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) single season record for stolen bases (34). She was named to the All NPF All-Star Team following her rookie season. She also played for the Rockford Thunder (2009-2010) and the Tennessee Diamonds (2010-2011).
Martin, the former Shanel Scott, was an Oklahoma State University Softball standout. She still holds several career school records including Most stolen bases (51) in a single season which was a Big 12 record and the NCAA Statistical Leader for the 2007 season.
Career Records -- Oklahoma State
1st -- At Bats (704)
2nd -- Stolen Bases (108)
2nd -- Runs Scored (162)
2nd -- Base on Balls (92)
2nd -- Hits (252)
4th -- Batting Average (.358)
6th -- Games Played (222)
6th -- Games Started (222)
Martin received all-conference and all-region accolades two out of the four years of her collegiate career. She was named First Team All-Big 12 and First Team All-Region for her outstanding senior season. During her rookie season (2005) she was named Second Team All-Big 12 and Second Team all-Region.
The Enid, Okla., native earned a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State in 2008 and a master's degree in Health and Human Performances from Texas Southern in 2013. She and her husband, Chinyelu, have a son, Chinyelu, Jr., and live in Humble, Texas.
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