Stephanie Spychaj enters her fourth season as assistant coach for the Indiana State softball team and her third season as the top assistant after being promoted in 2008. Spychaj was previously a student assistant coach in 2007 from August to December.
Spychaj completed a stellar four-year career for the Sycamores in 2007, spending time as a catcher, first baseman, and designated player. She put the crowning touch on her career as a senior after being named to the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament Team, as the Sycamores advanced to the State Farm MVC Tournament for the first time since the 2000 season.
As a junior, Spychaj played in 42 games and started in 35 while finishing second on the team with a .308 batting average. She recorded eight doubles and a homerun while accumulating seven runs batted in, and also totaled a career-best 32 hits. She began the 2006 campaign by being selected to the Econo Lodge UT-Martin Classic All-Tournament Team.
As a sophomore, Spychaj started 30 games, posting a .297 batting average, the second highest for the Sycamores, along with six doubles and a homerun with seven RBI.
During her freshmen season, Spychaj saw action in 48 contests, 45 of which she started. She recorded a .250 batting average with 31 hits and drove in 18 runs with eight doubles, as well as a homer against Drake. In addition, Spychaj had a season-best 3-for-4 effort from the plate with five RBI and a run scored versus the Bulldogs.
As a high school player at San Pedro High School in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., she was named the 2003 Long Beach Press Telegram Player of the Year in addition to earning several other accolades. Spychaj was selected to the all-state, all-city, and All-Marine League teams, along with being named All-Area by the Torrance Daily Breeze.
Besides Spychaj's playing experience, she has coached at numerous youth summer softball camps. In 2003, Spychaj assisted at the San Pedro Girls Softball Clinic, where she instructed players ages 10-18. She was also a coach at the Bogdanovich Receation Center in 2005. In addition, Spychaj has coached at the Wabash Valley Girls Softball Clinic hosted by Indiana State. She has also assisted as several clinics since 2003, including a number of hitting and catching instructional camps.
"Stephanie brings tremendous knowledge to our program," Head Coach Brenda Coldren said. "As a player, she came from one of the best high school programs in California. She has worked with the best, and she does a great job of identifying talent and developing those players once they arrive on campus. We've seen major improvement in our catchers in the last two years since she's been on staff."
