Coaches

Beth Wade

Beth Wade will enter her 5th season as the Head Coach at Gulf Coast State College.


Wade spent two years as an Assistant Coach at Troy University where she assisted in coaching the infielders and outfielders, working with hitters, and also was heavily involved in recruiting for the Trojans. In her two seasons in Troy, Wade coached two All-Sunbelt Team members including a first baseman in 2013, former Gulf Coast State College standout, Caitlin Ortiz, as well as an outfielder in 2014. In 2013 the Trojans captured the Sunbelt Conference Academic Award for the Highest Team GPA. Before joining the Troy University coaching staff, Wade spent the 2012 season at Lynn University, an NCAA Division II member school located in Boca Raton, Florida. Prior to that, Wade coached three seasons at Appalachian State University, helping to rebuild the Mountaineers program from 11 wins in 2008 to 27 wins in 2010, including the first winning season in program history. During her three seasons at App State, Wade’s players also received numerous individual accolades including one NFCA 1st Team All-Region performer, 9 All-Southern Conference Team members, 3 All-Freshman Team members (SoCon), and one All-SoCon Tournament Team member. In 2009, the team finished the regular season with a second place Southern Conference finish which was the highest finish in school history. The 2009 team broke 31 school records, including 24 single season individual and team records. App State led the Southern Conference in 12 individual categories and 6 team catagories during that record breaking season. One Mountaineer player was ranked in the top 10 in the country in four different offensive catagories.


Wade played collegiately at Florida State University from 2000-2004 under the direction of Hall of Fame Coach Dr. JoAnne Graf, where she was a four year letter winner and three year starter for the Seminoles. In the classroom, Wade was a three-time NCAA Academic All-American and four-time ACC Honor Roll member, as she graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master’s degree in sport administration. On the playing field, she was named to the All-ACC team and the All-ACC Tournament team in 2004.


While at FSU, Wade and the Seminoles won three ACC Championships (2000, 2003, and 2004) and made two appearances in the NCAA Women’s College World Series in 2002 and 2004. In 2002, the Noles knocked off the number one ranked UCLA Bruins in the opening game of the WCWS. In the semi-final game, the Seminoles lost a heartbreaking 11-inning bout against perineal power Arizona Wildcats to close out their season. In 2003, the Noles again had a very successful regular season. They rode a 27 game winning streak into the postseason, but their National Title hopes were ended with a disappointing 0-2 showing at NCAA Regionals. The Seminoles finished the season with a record of 46-11. In 2004, FSU was ranked #2 in the country throughout much of the season, as Wade led the team in doubles and home runs and FSU finished with a 62-19 record. After dropping the Seminoles opening round game to Cal Berkley, they fought back with a win over the Washington Huskies but eventually lost to LSU to cap off another record breaking year for the Noles.


At Miller County High School in Colquitt, Ga, Wade would earn Valedictorian honors while lettering in three sports: softball, basketball, and baseball. As a senior, she was named the Georgia High School Female Athlete of the Year by the Ga-Women in Sports organization. She made the transition from baseball to fastpitch softball at Florida State University.


After her playing career, Wade served as an assistant coach at Tallahassee Community College in 2005 before entering the private sector until her stint at Appalachian State started in January of 2008.


Wade also earned a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering from Florida State University in August 2007 and a master’s of engineering degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida in May 2012.

Rachael Reeves

Rachael Reeves enters her third season with the Lady Commodores Softball program.


Coach Reeves was a 4 year starter at Samford University from 2005-2010. She spent half of her career as a middle infielder and a slapper, the other half as a right-handed hitter and outfielder. Her first two years at Samford were spent competing in the Ohio Valley Conference before moving to the Southern Conference in 2008. She was chosen to be a Team Captain in 2010 and a representative for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee from 2007-2010.


After graduating from Samford with a Bachelor’s Degree in History, Rachael was accepted to Auburn University’s Graduate School to pursue a Master’s Degree in Geography. From 2010 to 2012 she worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant within the Geography Department. After completing her thesis at Auburn, she used her coursework to work in the GIS/Engineering department of Alagasco in Montgomery, AL.


In 2013, Rachael moved back to her hometown, Mobile, AL, to work with her family’s real estate business. At this time she also began doing lessons and developing dozens of young softball players in the Mobile area. She has recently been an active board member of the Mobile Thrillers and Head Coach of the 16U Exposure Team. The Exposure Team spent the last two years traveling all over the Southeast competing in front of college coaches. In the Spring of 2016, she led the Mobile Christian Varsity softball team to their 2A Area Championship, 2A Regional championship, and ended the season with an appearance at the state tournament.

Beth Wade