For Samantha Bates, Tennessee Tech has always been close to her heart. A former player and assistant coach for the Golden Eagle softball team, Bates has returned to the athletics side of the University to help guide the latest generation of student-athletes in their academic endeavors.

As a member of the Tech softball team, Bates helped lead the Golden Eagles to Ohio Valley Conference championships in 2003 and 2005 as well as NCAA Regional appearances both seasons.

Following her graduation with a bachelor’s in business administration - accounting, she joined Tory Acheson’s staff as an assistant coach. Bates helped lead the team to OVC championships and NCAA Regional appearances in 2006 and 2007. Her guidance didn’t just stop on the field, as she helped mentor the team to earning the top academic honor for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for the best grade point average in Division I softball in both 2008 and 2010.

During her tenure as a student-athlete and even to this day, Bates has served as a camp instructor and coordinator for Fastpitch Prep Softball Camps.

While coaching, Bates also earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction – secondary education.

She continued to serve as an assistant coach until the conclusion of the 2012 campaign, but didn’t stray far from the University, joining the staff as an academic advisor in June 2013. Bates has helped advise students within the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as Pre-Professional, Pre-Nursing, Communication and Computer Science students.

Bates has excelled with student orientation programs and was nominated for the UNIV 1020 Instructor of the Year for the 2016-17 academic year. She has also worked with at-risk students to develop plans for their future academic success.

She recently earned her doctorate in global sport leadership from East Tennessee State in May 2021.

The former Samantha Lovelady married former Tech football player Billy Bates in 2011 and the couple have two children.