Katie Brockmeyer already has circled the date Sept. 30 on the Cor Jesu varsity softball schedule.
Brockmeyer, a 2004 Cor Jesu graduate and former star first baseman, will take over as the Chargers head coach this fall. The Sept. 30 date is an important one as Cor Jesu plays at Ursuline that day.
Brockmeyer has coached the last two years at Ursuline, last year as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach to Charlie Kennedy.
"The players at Ursuline won't let me forget that Sept. 30 date," said Brockmeyer, who coached with Kennedy for six years at Ursuline and with the Missouri Heat club team. She also played for four years under Kennedy at Maryville University.
And what a career it was for Brockmeyer, who earned a master's degree at Maryville in 2009. She was a three-time all-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference performer with the Saints and was an ESPN academic all-America. Brockmeyer is in the top 10 in 12 different offensive categories at the school and is first in games played (174) and games started (173).
Ironically, she is behind Olivia Reichert on several of the all-time lists including batting average as Reichert is the all-time leader at Maryville with a .485 average (Brockmeyer is sixth at .355). Reichert was the varsity coach last year at Cor Jesu and will stay with the program as junior varsity coach this fall.
"It's really exciting for me to get my first varsity coaching job and have it be at Cor Jesu," said Brockmeyer, who is a South County resident. "Being at Cor Jesu taught me so much about life and time management. The focus at Cor Jesu is developing the whole person. It is about pushing yourself to do better and develop confidence in yourself."
Brockmeyer looks forward to working with the players on the 2010 team in all aspects of the game, but especially in hitting. Her father, Gerard, has been a long-time hitting coach in the area. He has coached the Missouri Maniacs and Legion of Doom select teams and also helped at Maryville.
"I realize the importance of pitching in softball and defense can win games as well," Brockmeyer said. "But I always loved to hit, and I like to break down a person's swing. I know when Ursuline and Cor Jesu played last year it was a hitting-fest, and that was exciting for me."
Cor Jesu Athletic Director Liz Biedenstein is excited to have Brockmeyer and her Cor Jesu classmate, Liz Fox, join the Chargers' coaching staff this year. Fox, who was a standout in both soccer and field hockey at Cor Jesu and was an outstanding soccer player at St. Louis University, will take over as the Cor Jesu varsity field hockey coach.
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to bring two of our own back to take over coaching roles at Cor Jesu," Biedenstein said. "Coach Fox and her sisters left their mark on the field during their playing days at Cor Jesu and Coach Brockmeyer is still thought of as one of Cor Jesu's strongest hitters in its softball program's history. These women know what it means to be a Cor Jesu student-athlete and the rigors of the academic programs that these girls face during the day. I think they will be good mentors and good role models."
