CARBONDALE, Ill. – Maddy Vermejan, a four-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, will return to the Southern Illinois University softball staff as an assistant coach, head coach Kerri Blaylock announced Friday.
“This is a win/win situation for Saluki Softball,” Blaylock said. “When Kenzi came to me and wanted to remain with the program, but in more of a volunteer role, the first person that Jen and I thought of was Maddy. She was a captain for three years. She knows the ins and outs of our program and most importantly knows how to promote our culture. We are excited to give her this opportunity but also excited to keep Kenzi as our pitching coach.”
Vermejan will coach first base and will take over for Kenzi Tate, who will remain on staff as a volunteer assistant. Tate, who is pregnant with her second child, will remain on staff, albeit as a volunteer assistant, and will continue to work with Southern’s pitchers.
“My number one role in life is being a mother and a wife,” Tate said. “Moving to the volunteer position allows me the opportunity to provide for my family while also still being able to work within the program and work with our pitchers. It’s a lot easier transitioning to a volunteer role when I know Maddy is there to take over. She knows the ins and outs of the program and has been a leader throughout her five years. Being able to bring someone in who has been with the program for so long, who is close with the girls and knows the expectations made me feel at ease with my decision.”
Vermejan capped an impressive collegiate career in the spring of 2021 by leading the Salukis to their third MVC Tournament title and the program’s third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five years. She was named all-conference in each of her four full seasons and is one of just five players in program history to accomplish that feat.
In her career, the two-time All-Region honoree hit .307 with a school record .477 on-base percentage. She became the program’s all-time leader in runs scored and ranks second in MVC history in the category. She also broke SIU’s all-time hit by pitch record as well as Southern’s single-season stolen base record.
“I’m honored to have been offered this position,” Vermejan said. “Knowing that I will get to coach next to two of the best coaches I have ever played for is very exciting. Kerri and Jen have taught me so much these past five years and now this gives me the opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes and learn even more from them.”
Vermejan was also a two-time MVC all-defensive selection, which includes being named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2018. A leader both on and off the field, Veremejan was a four-time MVC Scholar-Athlete team selection and was a three-year captain.
“Being a captain these past three years has allowed me to have a voice and gain trust from my coaches and teammates,” Vermejan said. “As I become a coach, I already have a very good understanding of our team culture and what is acceptable on and off the field. Being a younger coach, the girls on the team have been my best friends during college so I know they are comfortable coming to me for anything. This also allows for me to take certain things off Kerri and Jen’s plates. I have gone through what these girls are going through now or what they will go through in the future so I know how to help them with those kinds of things.”
The five-year starter was an on-base machine while a Saluki and finished her career ranked in the top-25 in nearly every offensive category in program history, which includes holding the school’s all-time career records for games played, runs scored, on-base percentage and hit by pitches. The Lemont, Ill. native also ended her career ranked third in career walks, fourth in stolen bases, eighth in doubles, 11th in hits, 17th in runs batted in and 21st in home runs.
