Aug. 4, 2009

Courtesy of Chico State Athletics

CHICO – Angel Shamblin, an assistant softball coach at Chico State during the 2006-07 season, is returning to become the program’s head coach. Athletic Director Anita Barker announced the hiring of Shamblin Tuesday morning. She will be formally introduced to the public at a press conference in the Acker Gym lobby Wednesday at 3 pm.

Shamblin has served as the head coach at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz., for the past two seasons. She compiled a 64-36-2 record, including a 35-14-1 mark last season that resulted in the program’s first postseason appearance in three years and Shamblin being named the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Softball Coach of the Year.
 
“We’re very excited that Angel is back in the Wildcat family to take over the program for the upcoming year,” said Barker. “It was hard to see her go in the first place, but the experience she’s gained by building and managing a program over the last two years has been invaluable.”
 
Shamblin agrees.
 
“The last two years have prepared me on every level to be the head coach at Chico State,” said Shamblin. “I’m so excited to get in there and get to work and start building the softball program into the kind of consistent winner you see throughout the entire Chico State athletic program.”
 
Prior to her year on the Chico State coaching staff in 2007, Shamblin began her coaching career with a six-year stint at Pleasant Valley High School, serving as varsity head coach in 2005 and 2006. She led the Vikings to the CIF Northern Section Championship both years, posting a combined 64-9-1 record and losing only once in 28 home games.
 
Shamblin was no less successful as a player. She starred at second base at Las Plumas High School in Oroville, earning back-to-back All-Eastern Athletic League honors. She began her college career as the starting shortstop for Butte College, and was an Honorable Mention All-Golden Valley Conference selection. She then transferred to BYU-Hawaii and was a starting outfielder for the Seasiders her junior and senior year.
 
Shamblin is a 2001 graduate of Chico State.