BLUFFTON, S.C. - Following a three-year stint at NCAA Division I and Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) member Austin Peay, Codee Yeske has been named USCB's next head softball coach. Yeske will be the fourth Sand Shark head coach in program history. 

"I couldn't be more thrilled with this hire", said USCB director of athletics Quin Monahan. "Coach Yeske is going to make an immediate and lasting impact on our student-athletes, as softball players certainly, but more importantly, as young women."

"I would like to thank chancellor Dr. Al Panu, director of athletics Quin Monahan and the entire athletics department for the opportunity to serve as the head softball coach," said Yeske.

"I am honored and humbled to return home to South Carolina. There is a buzz around the University and athletic department that makes it an exciting time to be a Sand Shark. I'm looking forward to getting to know our student-athletes and cultivating a culture of excellence, while enhancing the student-athlete experience," Yeske said. 

Codee Yeske (pronounced Cody YES-key) just concluded her third season as the Austin Peay assistant coach where she oversaw hitters and outfielders.

At APSU, she helped the Governors to a 71-50 overall record and a 38-17 OVC mark. She guided the Governors to several offensive improvements including, batting average, hits, runs, RBIs, doubles, home runs and slugging percentage (while decreasing total team strikeouts). In 2019, APSU set single-season team records in home runs, slugging percentage, hits, doubles and on-base percentage.

While on the coaching staff at Austin Peay, Yeske coached seven All-OVC, one NFCA Central Region First Team, Four NFCA Central Region Third Team and seven OVC Player of the Week honorees. 

"Lastly I am extremely grateful to coach Kassie Stanfill, APSU head softball coach, and our Governor student-athletes for the last three years. My experience and relationships there have been invaluable to me, but I can't wait to get to work," said Yeske.

Yeske came to Austin Peay after serving on the coaching staff of Kristy Norton at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, following a year as associate head coach for the Carolina Mojo 14U club team. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Yeske completed administrative tasks, including travel, budget and fundraising.

Prior to her time with the club team, Yeske spent eight months as associate head coach for the Carolina Elite 14U club squad and worked with the team's outfielders and hitters.

Yeske competed on the USA Baseball Women's National Team as part of the 36-member Trial Team in 2015 and 2016. She earned a gold medal at the Pan-American Qualifying Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Collegiately, she played her sophomore through senior years at the University of South Carolina, after beginning her college career at Presbyterian.

In her three seasons with the Gamecocks, the team posted an overall record of 93-79, which included back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Regionals (Austin Regional, 2013), (Tallahassee Regional, 2014).

"From the moment Coach Beverly Smith (South Carolina softball head coach) called about her (Yeske), Coach Yeske stood out as an exceptional candidate. She thoroughly impressed me with her desire to compete and her confidence to lead our program to new heights," said Monahan.

Yeske earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors (5/5/14), SEC Academic Honor Roll (Spring 2014), and she holds the distinction of scoring the first South Carolina run and hitting the first USC home run at Carolina Stadium at Beckham Field (3/15/13). She also hit the first grand slam by a South Carolina player at the stadium (4/24/13).

At Presbyterian in 2011, she helped lead the Blue Hose to a 28-20-1 overall record. She was selected Big South Conference Player of the Week on May 9 and named First Team All-Big South Conference.

Yeske graduated from South Carolina with a bachelor's in hotel and restaurant tournament (concentration in hospitality management) and most recently earned her master's in leadership and organizational administration (concentration in strategic leadership).

"Great days are ahead for USCB softball, and we are happy to welcome Coach Yeske to the Sand Shark family," said Monahan.