Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Softball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- chelsea.hawkins@mtsu.edu
- Phone:
- 904-8010
Chelsea Hawkins joined the MT Softball coaching staff in August of 2018 and is entering her fourth season in Murfreesboro. She handles responsibilities with the hitters and infielders.
Hawkins coached a pair of Blue Raider greats in their final season in a Middle Tennessee uniform in 2021. Summer Burgess exhausts her eligibility as the program’s leader in seven different categories, including hits, games started, games played and assists, while Lexi Cushing leaves as the program’s top power hitter of all time, boasting 50 home runs and 145 RBIs.
In 2020, Jocelynn De La Cruz slugged eight homers in the season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, placing her tied for seventh-most all-time in a single season. Also in the spring of 2020, Cushing broke the program’s career RBIs record. Despite the shortened season, the 2020 Blue Raiders ranked in the top 10 in program history in the following team categories: batting average (.283, eighth), home runs (28, tied-sixth), slugging percentage (.433, second), on base percentage (.362, second), and stolen base percentage (.872, third).
De La Cruz reached the program’s top 10 for RBIs in a single season, and Sydney Heath tied for the sixth-most sacrifice hits in a single season in 2019 under Hawkins. Additionally, Cushing became the program's all-time leader in home runs during the 2019 campaign, Hawkins' first season.
Hawkins spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons under Head Coach Tom Cole at Gardner-Webb, helping the Bulldogs to a 29-29 record and one win in the Big South Tournament.
Hawkins was instrumental in Gardner-Webb’s success at the plate, coaching Katie Prebble, the Big South Conference Player of the Year, Big South Freshman of the Year, NFCA First-Team Mid-Atlantic Region selection, a top-10 finalist for the NFCA/Schutt Sports Freshman of the Year award and an NFCA Third Team All-America selection. Thanks to Hawkins, Prebble broke the team's single-season home run record and the Big South Conference freshman home run record (23). As a team, Hawkins led the Bulldogs to a Big South leading .312 batting average.
Hawkins also spent time as an assistant coach at UNC Greensboro. She helped the Spartans to 33 wins in 2016 – including a 24-9 mark at home.
During her season in Greensboro, Hawkins worked with the Spartans’ offense and outfielders. UNC Greensboro batted .300 as a team in 2016 with 83 doubles, 61 home runs and 282 RBI. The Spartans scored 310 runs on the season, with Designated Player Lindsay Thomas leading the way with a .411 average, 18 doubles, 16 home runs and 40 RBI.
Hawkins spent the 2015 season as a graduate manager at her alma mater, South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks with outfield play and strategy, as well as assisting the staff with post-game scouting reports and video. She was also involved with the team’s batting practice and offensive workouts.
As a student-athlete, Hawkins was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks, belting 21 home runs during her time at the plate.
She batted .279 for her career with 29 doubles, 21 home runs, 85 runs scored and 90 RBI. Hawkins finished her career with the third-highest home run total in school history and ranked in the top-15 in career slugging percentage (.464), RBI, RBI per game and walks.
Hawkins also finished with a .983 career fielding percentage in the outfield and ranked sixth in South Carolina history with 12 outfield assists. She started 172 career games.
As a sophomore, Hawkins hit .309 and slugged .537 to earn NFCA All-South Region honors. She was also a standout in the classroom as well, earning SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition four times.
Hawkins was a three-time All-State selection at Wren (S.C.) High School.
