USC Upstate
Chris Hawkins has been promoted to USC Upstate Associate Athletic Director. He will remain as head softball coach.
“From my time as a player and now as a coach, USC Upstate has been a big part of my life for 30 years,” Hawkins said. “For me, every day is a great day to be a Spartan but today is a really good day.”
Hawkins said he is excited to work with incoming athletic director Julio Freire and the athletics staff in building a stronger reputation for USC Upstate’s Division I programs and in raising funds to better support those teams.
“You pour everything you have into building a great program, helping kids to be successful and doing what it takes to win at our level,” Hawkins said. “I’ve grown very accustomed to what it takes to win at our level and in thinking outside-of-the-box when it comes to raising funds to support our team.”
Now in his 24th season with the Spartans, Hawkins is the winningest coach in USC Upstate softball history and in the history of the USC Upstate Athletics Department with 859 victories. Among NCAA Division I active coaches, Hawkins ranks 15th by winning percentage and 23rd by victories.
Hawkins recently led the program to its fifth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance after winning both the ASUN regular season and tournament championships.
Hawkins, a native of Seneca, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1985 and again by the Houston Astros in 1987. He played in the Astros system in 1988.
Hawkins and his wife, Anje, have three children: Kyle, Brooks and Ryan.