Smash it Sports Vipers Name 2023 Coaching Staff

For immediate release - June 7, 2023

Rochester, NY - Its official! The SIS Vipers have announced their coaching staff. And what an excellent staff it is. The 2023 Viper Coaches consist of 4 of the nation’s top leaders in their craft.

Hailing from Louisiana is returning head coach, Gerry Glasco. Leader of the Rajin Cajuns, Glasco lead his collegiate squad to the 2023 super regional championships at the University of Washington last week, after winning his 4th consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship. The super regional appearance is Glasco’s 7th with the Rajin’ Cajuns. In The Vipers’ 2022 Exhibition Season, Glasco led Smash it to a 19-10 record. Glasco’s Vipers held the top standings in 6 major stat categories including triples, RBIs, plate appearances, at bats, stolen bases, and innings pitched.

Second on the coaching staff is Joe Guthrie. After spending 4 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before accepting his current role as the Assistant Coach at Texas A&M, Guthrie will return to Alabama during the 2023 summer for his first season with the Vipers. As a defensive specialist, we can expect to see Guthrie elevate the already excellent Vipers defense. In 2022, under Guthrie, the UAB Blazers proved themselves as one of the best defensive programs in Division I softball, turning the 5th most double plays per game that season (0.55). Although new to the WPF, and the Vipers, Guthrie is no stranger to Professional Softball. Guthrie previously worked in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League with the Scrapyard Dogs.

Third on the coaching roster is Hunter Veach. Following Joe Guthrie from UAB to Texas A&M, Veach holds the title at Texas A&M as Director of Player Development. Veach was a major part of the success of the Blazers had at UAB, garnering the second-best conference win record in program history. Veach also has experience in the NPF, serving as the assistant coach for the Cleveland Comets in 2017. Beyond the national level, Veach lead the Chinese Beijing Shougang Eagles from 2018 to 2020, managing a 60-player roster while overseeing the development of all athletes, all while simultaneously heading the Chinese Women’s national team until 2021, the largest softball operation in China.

Last, but certainly not least, the Vipers coaching staff adds Courtnay Foster. Formerly a Northwestern standout pitcher, she comes to the Viper staff with extensive experience both as a player, and a coach, primarily handling the pitching staff at each Bucknell, Northwestern, Louisiana, and UAB. As a player, Foster was a major hurler for the Wildcats, compiling 80 wins, 1,014 career strikeouts, and a Women’s College World Series win over Alabama in 2006. Her skillset earned her an NFCA All-American selection, a three-time All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big ten nod, and two-time NFCA All-Mid East Region Honoree. Foster also joins the Vipers family with a family of her own, coming to Oxford with her newborn baby, and as the wife of Vipers assistant coach, Joe Guthrie. We anticipate seeing her take on a similar role to the past, handling the pitching staff for the Vipers.

Over the years, each of these coaches' paths have intertwined. And undoubtedly, that history and cohesiveness will play a major role in the success of the Smash it Sports Vipers. We look forward to seeing the Vipers coaching staff in action this year.

For a complete schedule, and to purchase tickets for the 2023 season, please visit sisvipers.com.