SAN FRANCISCO –SF State Head Softball Coach Cristina Byrne has announced the hiring of Tara Tembey as the top assistant coach for the Gators' softball team this year. Tembey comes to SF State from Folsom, California, where she was the Head Varsity Softball Coach this past season for the Folsom High School Bulldogs.
“I am very excited to have this opportunity to be a part of Head Coach Cristina Byrne's staff this coming season,” said Tembey. “I am looking forward to being part of a competitive program and feel I will be able to learn a great deal from Coach Byrne as well as gain valuable experience as I am still young in my coaching career.”
While at Folsom, Tembey guided the Bulldogs to a 14-6 overall record and a 6-4 record in the Delta River Conference. Tembey helped lead the Bulldogs to the CIF-SJS section p layoffs. She was the Bulldogs' primary hitting and infield coach. This summer, Tembey has assisted with the Mike Candrea Southwest Camps in Tucson, Arizona. She worked with the infielders and assisted with team hitting while also helping out with game evaluation, scouting, weight room/conditioning, and agility overview.
Prior to this past year, Tembey was a Physical Therapy Aide at Advanced Physical Therapy in Placerville, California. During the 2007-08 season, she was the Student Assistant Softball Coach for her alma mater, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. Her responsibilities included organizing and managing the indoor practice facility and expenses while working with the outfielders and left-handed hitters.
Tembey also was a student-intern for the Moccasins in the Strength and Conditioning Program. She assisted with day-to-day operations and dissemination of information while developing workouts for injured athletes.
“I am very excited to have Tara join the staff here at SF State,” said SF State Head Coach Cristina Byrne. “Her knowledge of the game along with her energy of enthusiasm make her a great fit for the program and her strength and conditioning background will be a valuable asset,” added Byrne. “I am looking forward to working with Tara and the rest of my staff to make the 2010-11 Gator softball season a great one.”
The newest member to the SF State Gator Athletic Department staff, Tembey was a four-year starter at shortstop, second base, outfielder, and catcher. The Moccasins were two-time Southern Conference Champions and also won 160 games during Tembey's four-year career. She currently holds the school record for hits in a game with five versus the College of Charleston. The Folsom native also holds the school season record for runs scored with 55 and is third on the Moccasins' single season hits list with 75. She is also second with 17 career triples and third with 145 career hits.
While she was a member of the Moccasins, she received numerous awards including National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American Athlete of the Year, First Team All-Southern Conference, and the All-Tournament Team of the Southern Conference Championships.
