Coach seizes opportunity of ‘lifetime
This past July, Christy Connoyer strode across the lush turf of the Sydney Olympic Softball Centre, home to the 2000 Olympics. Clad in red, white and blue, she prepared to coach third base for the United States of American Athletes International Team in the 2011 Softball Australia International Challenge Series.
Connoyer, head coach of the Saint Louis University softball Billikens, strode to her post just outside the chalk marking the diamond, standing 15,500 miles from her hometown of Bethalto, Ill.- population 9,454.
“I opened my eyes and realized it; this is the premier stage,” she said. “What is a small town kid doing coaching in this arena?”
She found the answer to be simple, and the root of nearly every success story. “If you work hard, do things right and commit to something, it can take you anywhere,” she said.
Connoyer said she admits she is still reflecting on the trip Down Under and struggles to put her travels into perspective. The chance to compete against players from Australia, Italy and beyond was surely a treat, but pales in comparison to the satisfaction she felt when she witnessed her hard work pay off.
No matter what avenue life takes her SLU players down, she said she wants them to know a strong work ethic is the key to their goals. But did Connoyer know all her hours coaching softball would one day have her cuddling koalas and surfing the waves of the Gold Coast?
The door to the international tournament opened when she picked up the phone and long-time friend, colleague and Associate Head Coach at The University of Louisville, Carol Bruggeman, was on the other end. Connoyer showed no hesitation in accepting an offer from Bruggeman to serve as an assistant coach for the USAAI squad.
The SAICS is a tournament developed primarily for college-aged Australians to promote the sport and give players international exposure.
“This was a Cadillac trip,” Connoyer said of the honor to coach in the event.
Fifteen hours of flight time later, Bruggeman and Connoyer were leaning on traditional softball know-how to piece together a lineup of collegiate all-stars, none of which had played together as a unit. The team was composed of rising seniors and juniors. The majority of players hailed from Big East Conference schools. A hectic schedule that had them playing seven games in four days and stiff international competition left little time to tinker, but was no ground for excuses.
The Americans squared off against Australian players heading to powerhouse programs, such as the University of Oklahoma and the University of Hawaii. Naturally, the Connoyer kept her message to the Americans straightforward.
“We told them to go out there and compete,” she said. “Don’t get too technical. Simply trust in your instincts, fundamentals and your natural abilities.”
Connoyer and Bruggeman coached with bravado and fearlessness. They called for a handful of suicide squeezes and the team developed chemistry quickly. They battled to a 5-2 record in the tournament. A trip like this is not fully measured by the number of wins and losses, though.
Just as students at SLU studied abroad this summer, Connoyer, with this trip being the first time leaving the continent, was just like all of them. She took her time in Australia to not only coach to the best of her ability, but also to observe the sporting and cultural differences of international players, as well.
The Australians are known for their powerful swings and knack for crushing the ball into the gaps, but Connoyer returned surprised by their communication style.
“Even when they’re just tossing the ball around the infield, they’re always moving and chattering,” she said.
No abroad experience is complete without snapping pictures in front of iconic structures and sampling local cuisine and Connoyer’s experience was no different. The team’s downtime was spent touring the Sydney Opera House and Bay Harbour Bridge.
And for the record, her taste buds are not fond of the popular spread Vegemite, but took kindly to the chocolate confectionary delicacy Tim Tams. With the tournament completed, the team flew north to Brisbane, where they were able to get into touch with nature.
They visited a wildlife reserve where they fed kangaroos and handled koala bears. The squad also set aside time for surfing lessons.
“What a rush,” Connoyer said of riding the waves. “I didn’t quite get to stand up on the board, but still an exciting experience.”
Like many other study abroad students, once Connoyer returned stateside, she couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever get a chance to return.
“You don’t like to say it’s a once in a lifetime thing, but it most likely is,” she said.
Connoyer has been contacted about coaching in a similar event next summer, but has not made any official commitments, yet. For the time being, she will have to trade-in the Stars and Sripes for the royal blue of the winking Billiken.
