Bowling Green State University Athletics
Shaffer, McCauley Named to BGSU Softball Staff
September 18, 2007 | Softball
Sept. 18, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - Bowling Green State University head softball coach Shannon Salsburg has announced the recent addition of a pair of assistant coaches to her staff. Lani Shaffer and Tina McCauley have joined the Falcons, and both have already begun their duties in the BGSU softball program.
"I am ecstatic to add both Lani and Tina to my staff," said Salsburg. "Both are young and energetic coaches, and both have played at the top levels of softball. They will help us take the program to another level."
Shaffer, a native of Valrico, Fla., joins the Falcons after three years as an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University, where she handled hitting and coached the outfielders. In 2007, the Bulldogs hit .295 as a team to set a new school record. Shaffer also helped the team set school marks for home runs, extra-base hits, total bases, RBIs and walks.
"I am glad to be a part of the Falcon family," said Shaffer. "Bowling Green softball has a strong tradition, and I am excited about helping the program take the next step."
Shaffer joined the coaching staff after a stellar four-year playing career at GWU. During her playing days, she set school career records in several categories, finishing as the program's all-time leader in games played, games started and walks. Shaffer's walks record still stands, and she is second on the Gardner-Webb lists for games played, games started and triples. Shaffer is fourth in hits, RBIs and total bases and fifth in doubles.
Shaffer earned a spot in the NCAA record book for her efforts on the base paths, as she stole 55 straight bases spanning her freshman through senior seasons, the fifth-best streak in NCAA Division-I history. During her tenure, she saw action at shortstop, second base and center field.
Twice named Gardner-Webb's Defensive MVP in her career, Shaffer shared Offensive MVP honors as a senior and was an Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team selection.
Shaffer played professionally for the Michigan Ice in each of the last two seasons. In 2006, her first season, she was the only player to see action in every game for the Ice. The Ice played against other professional teams in the United States as well as against the national teams from several countries.
"I am excited to add Lani to the staff, as she brings a great deal of experience after playing at the top level professionally," said Salsburg. "Additionally, she brings several years of collegiate coaching experience after being a standout player at the collegiate level. I am looking forward to our players benefiting from her expertise in baserunning, and also to her working with our left-handed hitters."
 Tina McCauley, who spent last season coaching at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, is one of the top pitchers in Akron history (photo courtesy University of Akron)  |
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"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to be a part of BGSU and the athletic department," said McCauley. "Bowling Green has always been a strong competitor in the MAC, and I am looking forward to being able to build upon the program's success."
Prior to her tenure at TAMU-CC, McCauley served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Akron, for the 2005-06 academic year. With the Zips, she organized and developed pitching workouts and instructed pitchers in all aspects of the game. She also created conditioning workouts and assisted in recruiting.
McCauley was one of the top pitchers in UA history during her undergraduate tenure with the Zips. She became the school's leader in innings pitched (721 1/3), strikeouts (575), games started (108) and complete games (84), and ranks among the top-three hurlers in wins (60, third) and appearances (129, second). McCauley was named the team's Most Valuable Player twice and was the school's pitcher of the year on three occasions.
"Tina will be a great addition to our staff," said Salsburg. "We are fortunate to be adding a pitching coach who is so familiar with the MAC, having both played and coached in the league. I am looking forward to her continuing the development of our pitching staff. Her guidance will be invaluable -- she knows what it takes to be a successful pitcher in this league, because she has been there herself."
The Falcons posted a school-record winning percentage in 2007, Salsburg's first season at the helm, going 33-12 on the year. BGSU hit a total of 47 homeruns last spring, shattering the previous school single-season record of 29.
TRANSACTIONS: Bowling Green - Named Lani Shaffer and Tina McCauley assistant softball coaches.
