Tammy Wray stands at the end of the LSU dugout and looks on as the No. 1 college softball team in the nation wins, 10-2, on Saturday to sweep No. 6 Oklahoma in front of the crowd at Tiger Park.
Many fans remember Wray as the standout third baseman who anchored the position for four years. Now, Wray is steadily adapting to a new title with the LSU softball program — student coach.
“At first, it was a hard transition,” Wray said. “I still wanted to be out there with the team and … be playing the game I loved. It’s all I knew for so long, but I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be able to stick around.”
Wray has had to adapt to everything being just a little bit different this season. Though she has been involved with the softball program for years, her coaching role has presented new responsibilities.
Wray said she’s had to back away from having a player’s mindset to be part of the coaching staff. She said it’s been tough forgoing things she used to look forward to as a player, like playing catch.
“That was kind of just the hardest thing for me, just understanding that … I’m part of [Coach Beth Torina’s] staff now,” Wray said. “I’m not necessarily her player, so I don’t have to do the little things they do.”
Wray left sophomore Sahvanna Jaquish and junior Jenna Kreamer with a void to fill as they attempt to hold down the spot she commanded throughout her career.
Wray started 224 games in her four seasons with LSU, becoming known for her defensive prowess and leading the Tigers in assists in each of her four seasons with 442 total for her career. During her freshman and sophomore seasons, her assist totals ranked second and fourth in the Southeastern Conference, respectively.
Wray finished with a career fielding percentage of .948 and made just four errors during her senior campaign. She also raised her batting average from .199 her junior year to .308 in her final season.
Now, Wray has turned her experiences into valuable coaching advice to help ease Kreamer and Jaquish into her vacated position.
“She makes our whole infield better,” Kreamer said. “Her input is really important to us.”
Kreamer owns a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in the seven games she’s started. Jaquish has a .970 fielding percentage in her 31 starts split between catcher and third base.
Torina said Wray is committed to seeing Kreamer and Jaquish succeed.
“[Wray’s] been so valuable over there,” Torina said. “She watches everything they do in practice. She’s always right next to them, giving them advice, giving them tips. It’s so nice to have somebody young like that, that they can relate to, that they know. They have so much respect for her because she was so talented with what she did. She understands what they’re going through because she just did it, and they respect all the things she has to say to them.”
Knowledge and skill aren’t the only attributes Wray possesses as a coach. Kreamer and Jaquish noted Wray is patient and caring. In fact, Jaquish said she calls Wray “Mama Tammy” because of how encouraging she is.
“She just really is nurturing and really has genuine hopes for you and really helps you succeed,” Jaquish said. “She’s amazing.”
The crowd at Tiger Park goes crazy with every LSU win. But perhaps the Tigers’ greatest fan is at the end of dugout, supporting her friends and embracing her new role.
“I’m on the other side, but I’m still their biggest fan,” Wray said. “It’s awesome to see my best friends, my teammates and all the newcomers be doing so well and get recognized for things they deserve to be recognized for. I know … how hard they work every single day and on their own. At first, the transition was weird, but now I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.