The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Texas head softball coach Mike White announced on July 10, 2018, that former Oregon assistant coach Chelsea Spencer was heading to the Forty Acres to join his new staff as an assistant coach with the Longhorns.
Imbuing the program with her special blend of toughness and unbridled enthusiasm, Spencer helped guide the Longhorns to a 46-17 overall record in 2019. Along the way, Texas secured its first NCAA Regional title (No. 9 national seed) and NCAA Super Regional berth since 2013, coming within just a single victory of reaching the Women's College World Series. Three of her pupils were named Softball America All-Americans, pitchers Miranda Elish & Shealyn O'Leary as well as second baseman Janae Jefferson, a pair were tabbed as NFCA All-Americans (Elish & Jefferson), a trio reaped NFCA All-Central Region honors (Elish, Jefferson & catcher Mary Iakopo) and five were named to the various All-Big 12 Teams (Elish, Jefferson, Iakopo, O'Leary and outfielder Kaitlyn Washington).
A six-year assistant coach for the Ducks, after joining the Oregon program prior to the 2013 season, Spencer played a role in 312 total victories and five 50-win campaigns. She helped guide the UO program to five Pac-12 Conference regular-season titles, including four in a row from 2013-16, and four berths in the annual Women’s College World Series (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018). During her time at Oregon, the staff was also honored as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Pacific Region Coaching Staff of the Year on five occasions (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018).
During the 2018 season, Spencer helped the Ducks post a 53-10 overall record while winning the Pac-12 title, earning the No. 1 national seed for the NCAA Tournament and advancing to the WCWS. With her duties primarily including working with the infielders and defense, UO registered an impressive .973 fielding percentage, good enough for 20th in NCAA Division I and second all-time in a single campaign in Oregon softball history (top mark was .974 in 2007). In fact, six of the Ducks top seven single-season fielding percentage marks occurred during Spencer’s time with the program.
During her six years as part of the Ducks program, Oregon received a total of 20 NFCA All-American accolades. Included among those UO honorees were numerous infield standouts including second baseman Kaylan Howard (2013), third baseman Courtney Ceo (2014), third baseman Jenna Lilley (2015, 2018) and shortstop Nikki Udria (2016, 2017). From a league standpoint, her infield group was also included 13 times as part of the annual All-Pac-12 Conference squads.
Spencer began her coaching career as the junior varsity head coach at Alameda (Calif.) High School (2006). She then served a 2008 stint as a graduate assistant coach at Holy Names University (Oakland, Calif.) while concurrently serving as the head coach at Chabot Community College (Hayward, Calif./2007-10) as permitted by NAIA rules. From there, Spencer joined Jacquie Joseph’s staff as an assistant coach at Michigan State from 2011-12.
During a standout professional playing career, Spencer was a four-time All-National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) selection while starring for six seasons with the New York Juggernauts (2005), Philadelphia Force (2006-08), Rockford Thunder (2009) and the Tennessee Diamonds (2010). The shortstop and utility player won the 2009 league crown with the Thunder and served for a year as a team captain with the Force in 2007.
Collegiately, Spencer started 277 consecutive games at shortstop (2002-05) while helping the University of California to a stretch of four-straight WCWS berths that included the 2002 NCAA National Championship and consecutive national runner-up finishes (2003, 2004). A 2004 NFCA All-American, All-Pacific Region and All-Pac-12 choice, she also helped power the Golden Bears to the 2005 Pac-12 Conference title.
Prior to her collegiate career, the San Leandro, Calif., native was a four-time All-Hayward Area Athletic League selection at Arroyo High School. As a junior, she was named the HAAL Player of the Year and selected to ANG Newspaper's Best of the Best in 2000 and 2001. Her teams won HAAL titles in 1998 and 1999, while her West Bay Nuggets club team finished in third (1999) and fifth (2000) at ASA Nationals. She also played prep basketball and was a two-time All-HAAL selection.
Spencer graduated from the University of California in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in American studies.
Spencer Coaching Resume
Assistant Coach, University of Texas (2018-
Assistant Coach, University of Oregon (2013-18)
Assistant Coach, Michigan State University (2011-12)
Head Coach, Chabot Community College (2007-10)
Graduate Assistant Coach, Holy Names University (2008)
Junior Varsity Head Coach, Alameda (Calif.) High School (2006)
