University of Houston Softball

CHRISSY SCHOONMAKER Hometown Sebastian, Fla. College South Carolina '07, '09 PLAYING EXPERIENCE Level School, Position College South Carolina, Utility (2004-08) COACHING EXPERIENCE Year School, Position 2025 - Houston, Head Coach 2021-25 George Washington, Head Coach 2020-21 Harvard, Assistant Coach 2014-19 UConn, Lead Assistant Coach 2013-14 Houston, Assistant Coach 2011-13 Texas Tech, Assistant Coach 2010 Dreher (S.C.) High School, Co-Head Coach 2009 Dreher (S.C.) High School, Assistant Coach HEAD COACHING RECORD Year Record Postseason 2022 36-17 (21-3 A-10; A-10 Regular Season Champs) NISC Super Regionals; A-10 Finals 2023 17-28 (7-19 A-10) None 2024 27-26 (12-14 A-10) None 2025 33-21 (16-10 A-10) A-10 Tournament TOTAL 113-92 (.551) 56-46 (.549) QUICK HITS 2022 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year 2022 Atlantic 10 Regular-Season Champs Mentored 18 All-Conference Selections Tutored six All-Region players and an All-American Coached two Pitcher of the Year and a Player of the Year Played collegiate softball for South Carolina as a utility from 2004-08 Fastest coach to 100 wins in GW history Second most winningest coach in GW history Recorded the most A-10 wins by a coach during her tenure at GW in program history Chrissy Schoonmaker was named the third Head Coach in Houston Softball history on June 10, 2025, following four seasons as the head coach at George Washington where she led the Buff and Blue to a 113-92 record and the 2022 Atlantic 10 regular-season championship in her fir

Alex Brooks joined the University of Houston in May 2024 and serves as the Assistant Director of Compliance after his promotion in December 2024. Brooks previously worked with the Compliance staff as an intern. As an intern, Brooks helped out all over the office preparing documents, providing student-athletes with rules education, and approving official visit requests. In addition to all of this, he also provided assistance to any projects that might have arisen, as needed. Prior to his time at Houston, Brooks worked as a gameday operations assistant at North Greenville University during his studies there. Brooks is a 2024 graduate from North Greenville University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in sport management with a concentration in business. While in Tigerville, Brooks was a member and team captain on the lacrosse team, where he earned all-conference honors in addition to conference tournament honors.

Emily Chiang joined the University of Houston in May 2015 but moved to the Athletics Dominic & Ellen Ng Academic Center for Excellence in February 2023. Chiang was elevated to Director of Academic Learning Services following two years as Assistant Director for Academic Services. In her current role, Chiang interprets, analyzes, and monitors the academic progress of assigned student-athletes while ensuring admission requirements and satisfactory academic progress are met for all assigned incoming and continuing student-athletes pursuant to university, conference, and NCAA rules. Prior to joining the Athletics department, she served as an Academic Counselor in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Science in the Department of Economics for six years advising enrolled and prospective students on the academic programs and curriculums. Chiang spent just under a year as an admissions counselor after graduation where she helped recruit and assist prospective students by promoting the University and its programs. As an undergraduate at Houston, she served as an orientation team leader and mentor where she assisted groups of 25-35 incoming students with daily orientation activities including mandated government sessions, campus tours and enrolling in courses while providing a positive and encouraging atmosphere for the new students to foster pride and connection to the University. A born-and-raised Houstonian, she received her bachelor's degree in health from the University of Housto

Jacob Villarreal joined the University of Houston Athletics Department as associate director for sports medicine in January 2023. In that role, he works closely with the Houston Softball program and evaluates sports injuries and general medical conditions. He also creates personalized rehabilitation programs for student-athletes and works in conjunction with dietitians, strength and sports program coaches as well as orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists. Prior to joining Houston, Villarreal served for nine months as an athletics training fellow with Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners (2022). Villarreal received his bachelor's degree in athletics training from Texas in 2019. Following his undergraduate days, he served as an intern athletics trainer for the Softball and Women's Soccer programs at Texas-Permian Basin and with PhyTex Sports Medicine Clinic. Villarreal served as a graduate assistant athletics trainer at Southern Illinois (2020-22). There, he worked with the Women's Softball and Men's Wrestling programs while earning his master's degree in exercise and sports psychology in 2022. Villarreal is certified for athletics training and is a member of the National Athletics Training Association.

Jeff Cottrill was hired as an assistant coach for Houston Softball in June 2025, the first hire for Head Coach Chrissy Schoonmaker. Cottrill most recently se...

Jordan Gontram joined Houston Softball as assistant coach in June 2025, arriving in Houston following a two-season stint with George Washington where she wor...