Softball | 10/10/2018 6:27:00 PM

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University softball head coach Alison Van Scyoc has announced that Danielle Thacker has joined the coaching staff as a full-time assistant. Thacker replaces Jessica Strong, who was named the head coach at Seton Hill back in July.
 
Thacker arrives at Shippensburg from Richard Bland College of William & Mary in Virginia, a junior college at which she served as the head softball coach and an assistant to the athletics department. She began as an assistant coach at Richard Bland for the 2018 season before being elevated to the role of head coach earlier this year.
 
"I am beyond thrilled to add Danielle to our coaching staff," Van Scyoc said. "In her short time working with our team, she has captured their attention and already impacted our culture in a positive manner. She has vast knowledge in all areas of the game, but will consistently challenge our pitching staff to be better every single day."
 
Prior to Richard Bland, Thacker spent 2017 as the pitching coach at Shepherd during a season in which the Rams went 41-22 and advanced to the Atlantic 1 Regional Championship Game. With Shepherd, Thacker instructed a staff that compiled a 2.23 team earned run average (ERA) with 265 strikeouts. Two pitchers earned Mountain East Conference (MEC) All-Tournament Team honors, including one who garnered All-Atlantic Region and All-MEC accolades.
 
"I want to thank Shippensburg University President Laurie Carter for welcoming me to the Raider Family," Thacker said. "I also want to thank our athletic director, Jeff Michaels, for the opportunity to become a member of the athletic department and softball program. I am looking forward to the many opportunities that I will have to help continue to build on the success already established within the athletics department and softball program."
 
Thacker is well versed in all aspects of coaching. At Shepherd, she was involved with practice planning, outfield instruction, pitcher evaluation, pitch calling and charting, and game analysis. She has also handled numerous administrative duties, including travel planning and budget assistance.
 
"She is an authentic, honest, and true role model for our young women," Van Scyoc said. "Her history coaching and playing at the highest level brings insight, experience and wisdom that must be respected. She has already brought a mindset of competition that will benefit our program. We welcome her to the family."
 
As a collegiate athlete, Thacker played four years of Division I softball at the University of New Mexico (1997-2000). Thacker remains ranked among the Top 10 all-time for the Lobos in 20 career statistical categories spanning hitting and pitching.
 
A two-time All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) First Team selection, Thacker won 51 games and recorded 348 strikeouts as a pitcher while batting .342 with 26 home runs and 143 RBIs at the plate. She threw a perfect game in 1999, and graduated with New Mexico's school record for career RBIs.
 
Thacker's first coaching experience came in 2003-04 with her alma mater. In recent years, Thacker has coached in the Mid-Atlantic Region. After serving as an assistant at Moravian from 2012-13, Thacker spent 2015-16 as a pitching coach at Wilkes.
 
Additionally, Thacker has more than 15 years of experience as a private instructor. She has worked with Creating Aces (2013-17) in West Virginia and Maryland, and Triple Crown Sports (2001-03) in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Thacker played professionally in Forli, Italy for Forli Softball (2000), earning MVP and Best Hitter honors at the Championship Tournament.
 
A native of Long Beach, Cal., Thacker earned her bachelor of arts in university studies from New Mexico in 2000. She and her husband, Chad, have a son, Garrett, and a daughter, Peyton.