Athletics play a big part in many people's lives, and after their playing days, many find a way to keep athletics in their lives. For some, it's still a huge aspect of their lives.
Former Boxer softball player Chelsey Chamberlain has found a play to stay involved in athletics after hanging up the cleats, and she found that way while being at Pacific and playing softball. Chamberlain, who's now an Assistant Communications Director at Louisiana State University, working with softball and football, got a start on her athletics communication career as a student-athlete at Pacific.
Chamberlain is in her third year at LSU, where she is the head athletics communication contact for softball and works closely with football. She moved to Power Five after four years at the University of New Mexico, where she worked with women's and men's basketball, volleyball, and softball. During her tenure at New Mexico, she received the CoSIDA Rising Star award in 2017. The award is given annually to a university division and college division member with 10 years of full-time service or less in the profession for service, dedication, energy, and enthusiasm that makes the individual a "rising star" in athletics communications.
Her athletics communication career started at Pacific, working as a student in the Sports Information office and then after her playing career.
The former Boxer softball player credits former Pacific Sports Information Director Blake Timm for helping her get her athletics communications career underway. "I wouldn't be here sitting in this chair at LSU next to Tiger stadium if it wasn't for Blake Timm and him taking a chance on me," said Chamberlain.
On the softball field, Chamberlain put together a spectacular career for the Boxers helping the team win 20+ games in three of her four seasons with the team. The Oregon native was a four-year starter and earned All-Northwest Conference honors all four seasons, along with NFCA West All-Region honors three times.
At the plate, she notched a .378 career batting average with 175 hits, 119 runs scored, 192 RBI's, 31 doubles, and 44 home runs, while inside the circle, she was 29-25 with a 3.99 ERA, an opponent batting average of .252, and 265 strikeouts. She finished her Pacific career setting the school record for single-season and career home runs and RBI's.
On the diamond, Chamberlain said one of her favorite memories was her freshman year against Linfield when the team earned a 4-0 win highlighted by a Jessie Garcia grand slam and shutout pitching performance from Miranda McNealy.
In the SID office, Chamberlain had plenty of great memories at Pacific, also. "A moment that I will remember forever is watching that first football game. Just knowing that all that hard work we put into helping them recruit and SID stuff with Blake, this is all coming together. It was really cool to see," said Chamberlain when talking about a favorite memory at Pacific working in the SID office.
Chamberlain continues to grow in the athletics communications profession and impact athletes' experiences like she experienced at Pacific.
"I grew so much as a person there (Pacific). It was just an amazing experience. Everybody's there to help you and get you where you need to go and just a family atmosphere."
