BLACKSBURG – With the season opener around the corner for the Virginia Tech softball team, head coach Pete D'Amour answers a handful of questions as he enters Year 4 with the Hokies.
How did you get into softball?
"My dad played when I was growing up. I grew up in the dugouts being a batboy for my dad's teams. Once you start playing baseball, you don't think about softball anymore because you see the baseball players on TV and playing college baseball. I played two years of college baseball and when I was done playing, I started playing men's fastpitch. My first year of men's fastpitch was 2002, and I was working on a golf course during the week. I went back to school and I had a national tournament in Atlanta. The softball coach at Georgia Tech at the time was my assistant baseball coach in college. He got the head coaching job at Missouri the day before I got there and asked if I could pitch. I told him yes and he offered me a full scholarship to be a batting practice pitcher for the team."
Now at Virginia Tech, you guys have so much success since you've been here. What do you think has been the key to that?
"Well, player development has been a big thing. We take pride in being up to date in how we coach our kids. There's not a one set way. I think we treat our kids right. We treat them like adults. It's a fun environment. If you make them better and treat them right, you have a chance to win."
Focusing back on you, you had a baby mid-season when you guys were about to get into the NCAA Tournament. What was that experience like?
"He was supposed to be due the first week in June. Last year when we traveled I took a "COVID car" in case one of the kids got sick, the trainer [Kristen Matthis] would take the car back home. We went to Louisville last year for the ACC Tournament. We ended up losing to Clemson in the second round, so we went home that night. I was about two and a half hours away when my wife called and said "I think he's coming." I took the wrong exit but managed to get to the hospital at around 10:30 that night. Reaux was born that Sunday afternoon, and we actually had the NCAA selection show that night. I met up with the team after he was born to watch the show and they all said, 'What are you doing here?!' But I was there for his birth. It's like we lost to Clemson for a reason, because had we won, I wouldn't have been there. I spent that Monday with him, we left for Arizona State on Tuesday and I was gone for two weeks. The life of a coach."
Has being a father added any perspective to your coaching?
"I think I'm a little bit more patient. I've always been patient, though. I've always felt for parents of kids. I know I'm taking care of theirs. Now, I've got one of my own. I'm always appreciative of the opportunity to mentor kids, so now that feeling is a little stronger."
What are you doing when you're not consumed with softball activities?
"Changing diapers (laughs). I try to spend as much time with my son as possible. We just bought a house and are trying to sell the old one. The urge to provide for my family is definitely stronger now. My wife has a good job, too, but now that we have another mouth to feed, we certainly have to think about that a lot. I play some golf when I have some free time, but I always keep my phone on me in case someone needs me at home or for softball."
What's the support system been like since you've been at Virginia Tech?
"It's been great. We have a great administrator in Chris Helms (Senior Associate Athletic Director, Administration and Sports Programs). He is open to calls all the time for stuff I need to ask him. Whit [Babcock] (Director of Athletics) has been great too. Gary Bennett (Associate Athletics Director, Sports Psychologist) does a really good job for our team, I trust him. Kristen Matthis (Director, Sports Medicine) is a great trainer. Kelly Murphy (Assistant Director, Strength and Conditioning, Olympic Sports) is a great strength coach. I call other coaches for questions I have to. When I call Tony Robie (wrestling), Carol Robertson (women's golf) or Mike Brizendine (men's soccer), they answer. We are all on the same team here. You don't feel like people are pulling against you. That's a different feeling here as opposed to other places I've been."
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