COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The most successful pitcher in Ohio
Valley Conference history, Bonnie Bynum is returning to her alma
mater to join the Tennessee Tech softball program as assistant
coach.
Head coach Tory Acheson, who guided Bynum through her award-winning
career from 2003 to 2007, announced her addition to his staff where
she will serve as pitching coach beginning June 1. She replaces
Samantha Bates, who is moving into anew role as volunteer assistant
coach.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to come back to
my alma mater,” Bynum said. “It’s a great thing
that I get to work at the place that I was a part of. I love Tech.
I love Tech athletics, and what they’re doing there.
I’m glad to be coming back.”
Bynum has spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach at
Western Kentucky University. Under her guidance, Hilltopper pitcher
Ryan Rogge earned all-region and all- Sun Belt Conference
honors.
“Bonnie has been successful in transferring her knowledge
of pitching to her players,” said Acheson. “She
understands the craft of pitching, she understands the game, and
she understands student-athletes. I never questioned whether she
would be successful as a coach, and I’m really excited that
she is returning our program.
“Bonnie will be a tremendous asset to Tennessee Tech
softball as a coach, the same way she was as a player,”
Acheson said.
Bynum currently holds every OVC pitching record except one
(which is held by another former Tech pitcher), and was twice named
as Tech’s Outstanding Female Athlete. A two-time OVC Pitcher
of the Year in 2006 and 2007, she was a three-time first-team
all-OVC selection. She also won three consecutive OVC Tournament
MVP honors.
As a junior, she was named the Outstanding Female Athlete for the
entire OVC.
In the circle for Tech, she was a four-year letterwinner and
starter under Acheson. She posted a school- and OVC-record 103
career victories including 34 wins as a senior in 2007.
All told, she appeared in 193 games, throwing 1,021 strikeouts
and six no-hitters. She finished '07 ranked seventh nationally in
victories. During her senior year, she posted a 1.50 earned run
average, throwing 33 complete games and 11 shutouts while pitching
over 300 innings.
She is a native of Fayetteville, Ga., and graduated from Tech in
2007 with a degree in business management.