BLACKSBURG – Rounding out the completion of his coaching staff, Virginia Tech's head softball coach Pete D'Amour on Thursday announced the hiring of Matt Guemmer, who will serve as a volunteer assistant coach.
"Matt is a big addition to our staff," D'Amour said. "He will oversee our outfielders and is well versed in other aspects of the game. He comes from a coaching family and works as hard as anyone I've been around.
"I'm thankful Matt will be around this year. He'll be a big asset to our program."
Guemmer will work with the outfielders, which brings back five returners in Jada Crittendon, Darby Trull, Cana Davis, Emma Strouth and Kinsey Johnson, and adds two newcomers in Al Velazquez and Mason Ochs.
"Coming to a school like Virginia Tech is an opportunity of a lifetime and I cannot thank Pete [D'Amour] enough for bringing me on board," Guemmer said. "I took this position because I was able to see how great of a coach and person Pete was during our time at Mizzou, and knew that this would be a great fit. I cannot wait to do my part to help bring success to my new Hokie family."
Guemmer comes most recently from De Soto High School in De Soto, Missouri, where he was the head coach of the girls' softball team for four years, starting in 2014. His first year on the job, Guemmer led the Dragons to a MSHSAA AAA state championship with a 25-4 record. The team owned a .351 batting average and 1.41 ERA, respectively.
Under his watch, Guemmer produced 13 MHSFCA Academic All-State selections, three MHFSCA All-State players and guided the team to being named MHSFCA Academic All-State in 2014. In 2013, Guemmer served as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach in 2014.
Prior to the stint at his alma mater, Guemmer worked as an assistant coach at Mineral Area, a two-year JUCO, for four years in Park Hills, Missouri. He helped mold four NJCAA All-Americans and four NJCAA Academic All-Americans. The Cardinals earned two trips to the NJCAA World Series Qualifier in 2009 and 2011.
Guemmer graduated from Missouri in 2013 and while in Columbia served as a student manager for two seasons. Guemmer's responsibilities included working camps and clinics, videotaping game footage and managing equipment.
In his spare time, Guemmer is a clinic speaker at Glazier Clinics and is a regular presenter at the MHSFCA Coaching Clinics.