University of North Carolina Athletics
Chelsey Barclay Named Softball Pitching Coach
September 5, 2015 | Softball
Barclay comes to Carolina after two seasons as the pitching coach at Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo where she developed some of the top pitchers in school history.
“I am excited to welcome Chelsey to our coaching staff and our Carolina Softball family,” said Papa. “Her passion and excitement for the game are evident. She has had successful coaching and playing experiences throughout her career, including the opportunity to compete at the NCAA tournament as a player and a coach. Her pitching staffs have finished in the top three of their conferences and in 2014 she coached the Big West Conference pitcher of the year. I am confident she will challenge our players to rise to the next level and enhance the culture of our team, on and off the field. She is a great addition and fit for our program.”
During her first season with the Mustangs, Cal Poly's 2014 rotation led the Big West Conference and ranked 27th among more than 300 NCAA Division I programs with a 2.13 ERA. The Mustang rotation also led the Big West in strikeouts (311 and 5.92 per game) and fewest home runs (23) and earned runs (113) allowed.
Under Barclay, Mustang righthander Sierra Hyland was named 2014 Big West Pitcher of the Year after finishing 13th nationally in strikeouts (263) and 15th in victories (26).
Barclay served as an assistant and pitching coach at Marshall from 2011-13. She capped her tenure in Huntington, West Virginia, by helping the Thundering Herd to a 36-22 overall mark, the program's first Conference USA championship and an appearance in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Marshall's 2013 pitching staff ranked 34th among NCAA Division I programs with a 2.25 ERA. During each of Barclay's final two seasons with Marshall, the Herd pitching staff finished among the top-three Conference USA programs in ERA, strikeouts and opposing batting average.
Prior to her time at Marshall, Barclay served as the graduate assistant pitching coach at Louisiana-Monroe for the 2010 season.
A native of San Jose, Calif., Barclay earned Horizon League All-Newcomer team praise during her 2004 freshman season at Illinois-Chicago, in addition to helping the Flames to the NCAA Tournament.
After transferring to West Valley College (Saratoga, Calif.), Barclay was named NorCal Pitcher of the Year after winning 22 times and compiling a 0.54 ERA. She continued her collegiate career at Oklahoma State (2006-07) before graduating with degree in elementary education.
