By Malcolm Butler
A pair of recently graduated Louisiana Tech student athletes begin their high school coaching careers this fall in the 318 area code as former softballer Amanda Gonzalez and former hoopster Gabbie Green will serve as assistant coaches and teachers at Cedar Creek School.
According to Cougars head softball coach Julie Riser said Gonzalez will serve as the head coach of the middle school program and assistant with the varsity. She will also be teaching full-time with physical education classes.
“I am excited to have her knowledge of the game and be able to work with our softball team,” said Riser. “I am always looking for new ideas and I think this is something that she can bring to our program. Having her on staff will be a great asset to our program and I am looking forward to her coming in and collaborating with our coaching staff.”
Gonzalez, a native of Santa Monica, California, spent the past three seasons lettering for Louisiana Tech, starting 156 games mostly at shortstop. She earned first team all-Conference USA and all-Mideast Region honors in 2022 when she helped guide Tech to the regular season CUSA title.
“I never thought I would ever be a coach,” said Gonzalez. “But when this opportunity came I couldn’t let it go by. I love teaching the game to younger generations and helping them understand the game more.”
Gonzalez helped Tech rank in the top 20 in the country each of the past two seasons in double plays turned while batting .295 with 31 extra base hits, 72 runs and 54 RBI. Prior to coming to Tech, she was named the Schutt Sports/NFCA NJCAA Division 1 National Player of the Year as a freshman at Howard College.
“I’m looking forward to being able to meet the girls and sharing my passion and knowledge for the game,” said Gonzalez. “I really do want them to love the game and have fun. I’m super stoked to be around Julie Riser. I really do believe I’ll be in good hands with her.”
According to Lady Cougars head girls basketball coach Katie Hall, Green will lead the junior high program at Cedar Creek while also serving as an assistant on the varsity. Hall was able to work closely with Green through her Hall of Hoops camps the past few years.
“Gabbie came highly recommended from Brooke Stoehr when I was looking for some help with my Hall of Hoops teams in spring of 2022,” said Hall. “I was very fortunate to have Gabbie join me that spring/summer season, and I was able to witness her connection with the girls almost immediately.
“Her collegiate experience and leadership qualities was exactly what I was looking for. She is definitely a natural leader and coaching comes east to her. I was fortunate enough to have her help again this past spring.”
Green spent the past two years at Louisiana Tech after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh. Green is a two-time CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll honoree for her work in the classroom and saw action 32 games this past year after missing the previous season due to injury.
“As soon as I got the varsity job, it wasn’t long before I started working on her to take over the junior high program here,” said Hall. “She is so great with the girls and already had a relationship with them. Several things had to line up for this to happen, but I was extremely excited when she told me she could step in. And it makes it even more special to me to have a fellow Lady Techster to work along side with. I can’t wait to see what the future is in store for this natural born coach.”
Green, a Bellville, Texas, native, began her collegiate career at South Plains College where she was named an NJCAA first team All-American. She then signed with Pitt where she started 47 games for the Panthers during her two seasons playing in the ACC.
“I am excited about sharing my knowledge and experiences with this young group of girls for their personal development on and off the court,” said Green. “I understand that I can make a huge impact on the girls, and I don’t take that lightly. However, as I’ve already been working with them over the summer, they’ve already made an impact on me. This year I’m looking forward to seeing us grow together, and I’m making it a priority to prepare them as best as I can for the next steps of their journey.”
She scored a season-high 14 points in a win over WKU last season for the Lady Techsters.
