Softball season is in full swing, bringing many new faces to the team. One of these new faces is new assistant coach Mary Bean, who was recently hired as the assistant coach for UW-Green Bay softball team this season.
Before becoming a coach at UW-Green Bay, Bean was a four-year starter at the University of Southern Indiana. After graduating in the spring of 2022, Bean is very young in the coaching world, and she knew that going in and it was head softball coach Sara Kubuske’s optimism for her that drew her to the program. “I always told myself that it would be unrealistic to think that someone would hire straight out of college. When the position of assistant coach was posted, I applied with little hope of receiving an invitation to interview. However, the head coach, Sara Kubuske, thought otherwise and invited me to an interview. Kubuske’s optimism and hope for me drew me to UW-Green Bay,” Bean added.
Transitioning from being an athlete to a coach can be a tough transition for anyone. Bean discusses the transition and the differences between being a player and a coach. “Going from being a college athlete to a coach did require a mindset transition. I now have to take into account the behind-the-scenes of competing, whereas, as an athlete, all I had to focus on was performing to the best ability and supporting my teammates. Now I have to take into consideration travel plans, expenses for budgeting, and each athlete’s success athletically and academically,” Bean explained.
While Bean is new to this coaching role, she did have some coaching experience in her time as a student-athlete which she competed in tournaments and had success in those tournaments. “During my time as a student-athlete, I coached for the local travel softball program that helped my recruiting process. While coaching for the Dennison Silver Hawks 16U and 18U teams, we won major tournaments, including the PGF Firecracker in Indianapolis, IN, with over 100 competing teams, and the PGF Regional Tournament in Peoria, IL,” Bean explained.
When an athlete or a coach comes onto a new team, usually they always want to make a difference for the better and bring something to the program to benefit the long-term future. Bean talks about what she hopes to bring, hoping that her playing experience can help aid the program during her tenure while also incorporating her exercise science degree. “After completing four years of collegiate softball, I believe I can use my experiences to aid in the team’s success. During my time at the University of Southern Indiana, I received my bachelor’s degree in exercise science, which I intend to incorporate my learnings in practice to enhance overall athleticism,” Bean added.
Bean continued to praise Kobuske for the opportunity to take a chance on her. After she was hired, Bean stepped foot on the Green Bay campus and fully embraced the culture. Kubuske was willing to take a chance on someone without any college coaching experience prior to this position. After the interview process, I was able to visit Green Bay, Wisconsin, and loved every minute of it. I enjoyed the campus tour and had the opportunity to explore the city,” Bean stated.
Bean also explained how she was a huge Packers fan, so visiting Lambeau Field was a must for her. “I also happened to be a huge Packers fan and was able to see Lambeau in person for the first time. I was drawn by the campus environment as well as the city itself to move to Green Bay and begin my coaching journey,” Bean added.
The softball team is coming off a 25-25 record and a 15-10 conference record, finishing 5th place in the Horizon League. Bean believes that as long as everyone works as a team, the potential is very high for this program. “The expectation for the team this season is to uphold our team culture of playing and supporting each other throughout the highs and lows. If we continue to stay true to our program’s values, our potential for the season is astronomical,” Bean noted.
Bean’s time at the UW- Green Bay softball program has been short, but that hasn’t been short of exciting. Bean said, “I love coming to work every day. Every day I look forward to working with the team during practices and competitions. I am fortunate to have a good group of athletes that push themselves while still finding fun in the sport. The running joke is that there is never a dull moment with this team, and I enjoy every moment I can get with them. The athletes, along with head coach, Sara Kubuske, create a positive environment for learning which is why I love being here at UW-Green Bay.”
The team had their home opener on March 24th, splitting a doubleheader with Robert Morris. When asked about what she was looking forward to the most about the softball season, she mentioned the conference play and how she couldn’t wait to see the players’ preparation pay off. “I am looking forward to the conference competition. The team has been putting in a lot of work that I expect will pay off during conference play. We have been competing with challenging opponents this preseason which is preparing us well for the conference season,” Bean said.
“I look forward to seeing the team succeed and play hard while representing UW-Green Bay and the Horizon League in the postseason,” Bean noted.
