USC Upstate head softball coach Chris Hawkins has announced the hire of Tonya Medders as assistant softball coach. Medders comes to USC Upstate from Georgia Gwinett College where she has served as an assistant for the last 5 years.
At Upstate, Medders primary focus will be to mentor the Spartan pitching staff.
“She is an awesome person that is well liked in our profession. Tonya is very knowledgeable of pitching and knows how to get the most out of her pitchers. We are very fortunate to have her here at Upstate!” said Hawkins.
At Georgia Gwinnett, Medders assisted in all facets of the program with an emphasis on management of the Grizzlies’ pitching staff. She has played an integral role in four conference tournament championships and helped lead the GGC to the NAIA World Series in 2018 and 2019. The 2019 squad advanced to the NAIA World Series semifinals, the deepest run in the postseason in program history. In addition, the Grizzlies posted back-to-back 50-win seasons in 2017 (50) and 2018 (53).
GGC ranked among the national leaders in NAIA Division I in ERA the last three full seasons ranking in the Top 25 each season including as high as 6th nationally in 2018. The staff also ranked in the Top 30 in all three seasons nationally in strikeouts and opponent batting average as well.
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to join the USC Upstate softball family. I feel incredibly honored to join this amazing staff with Chris Hawkins and Bryan Pack. I look forward to being a Spartan and can’t wait to get started!” said Medders.
Individually, Medders worked with the three-time Association of Independent Institutions Pitcher of the Year, Taylor Hansis as well as Alexa Good, the 2021 AII Pitcher of the Year and second team NFCA All-America honoree.
Prior to GGC, Medders served as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division II West Georgia in 2016. In 2015, she was the head coach at Central Arizona and leading the program to an NJCAA Region I playoff berth. From 2012-14, Medders was an assistant coach at Berry College (Ga.) and from 2010-11 was the head coach at Wesleyan College (Ga.), both NCAA Division III programs.
As a student-athlete, Medders played for Georgia College & State University, earning all-conference honors as a first baseman. She twice earned all NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament honors. In 2008, Medders also earned PBC All-Tournament and Daktronics All-Atlantic Region second team honors. She began her playing career at Polk State (Fla.), where she was named to the All-Suncoast Conference second team.
Medders has an associate degree from Polk State, a bachelor degree in psychology from Georgia College in 2010 and a master’s degree from Berry College in 2013.
She is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida.
All hires by the University of South Carolina Upstate athletic department are subject to an approved background check.
