Camp Staff

University of Maryland softball coach Laura Watten announced Tuesday the addition of Courtney Scott to her coaching staff on Aug. 12, 2008. Scott, whose resume boasts 10 years of softball playing and coaching experience, joins Alissa Smith in the role of assistant coach as the team prepares for its 2009 season.
Scott spent the previous two seasons serving as a graduate assistant softball coach for the University of Oklahoma, which posted a 47-14 record while winning its 2008 NCAA Regional tournament and advancing to the Super Regional. For the Terrapins, Scott's primary responsibilities will be overall development and advancement of pitching/catching with additional shared duties in the areas of hitting development and defensive strategy. "We have definitely elevated the level of expertise and enthusiasm of our coaching staff with the hiring of Courtney Scott," Watten said. "She brings a great deal of championship experience and leadership, both as a player and assistant coach, that is necessary in regards to the successful development of our pitching/catching staff. In addition, Courtney's passion and commitment to overall student-athlete success is a great fit for our staff, and I feel fortunate that she has decided to become a part of the Terrapin family." While in Norman, Okla., Scott assisted with all aspects of the Sooners' coaching process, including instruction and development of student-athletes, recruitment, coordination of travel and organization of camps and clinics. The 27-year-old native of Clovis, Calif., specialized in working with the Sooners' pitchers and catchers, and briefly occupied the role of interim pitching coach for Oklahoma, a member of the Big 12 Conference. "I am extremely excited for the opportunity to be a part of the University of Maryland athletic tradition," Scott said. "I feel my experience as a player and working for coach Patty Gasso the last two seasons at the University of Oklahoma has prepared me to take this next step in my career. Coach Watten has great vision for the Maryland softball program, and I look forward to helping take it to the next level." Prior to arriving at Oklahoma, Scott played professionally for two teams - LeoPalace 21 of the Japan League and NYNJ Juggernaut Professional Softball of National Pro Fastpitch. A three-year stint for LeoPalace 21 saw Scott play for a Tokyo-based club that notched two third place finishes (2005 and 2006) and one runners-up finish (2004) in the ultra-competitive Japan League. Scott made her professional softball debut in June of 2004, when she joined the NPF's Juggernaut, based out of Montclair, N.J. Her team went on to claim the 2004 NPF Championship, and Scott's experience with the Juggernaut introduced her to the sport's marketing and media opportunities. A NFCA All-American catcher for the softball team at the University of California-Berkley, Scott served as captain and a four-year starter for a team that enjoyed nearly-unparalleled success. Scott's teams participated in the NCAA Women's College World Series during each of her four seasons, finishing as NCAA Champions her junior season (2002) and NCAA Runners-up her senior year (2003). The two-time All-Pac-10 Conference nominee (2002 and 2003) and NFCA Collegiate Top-40 Selection (2003) also twice achieved Verizon Academic All-American status. Scott received a Master of Arts and Human Relations degree from Oklahoma in 2008 and a Bachelor of Arts, American Business & Globalism and American Studies degree from California-Berkeley in 2003.

Jillian Callaway, 5 Star Athletics founder, graduated from the University of Maryland in 2003 with a B.S. in Communications. During her collegiate career as a Terrapin, Callaway played nearly every position on the field and amassed a 0.988 fielding percentage while batting 0.300 at the plate. She was honored with the M Club President's Cup Award for Academic Achievement and ACC Top Six for Service Award, and was also selected to the Verizon All-Academic 2 nd team. In her first year after graduation, she worked as a softball instructor at Planet Fastpitch in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, New England's largest exclusive Fastpitch softball facility. Callaway moved back to her roots to take the assistant coaching position at her alma mater in the Fall of 2004. She helped the Terrapins to another winning season while promoting character and poise, which won them the ACC Sportsmanship Award for the 2005 Season. Callaway continued on as the pitching coaching in the Fall of 2005 under new Terrapin Coach Laura Watten. ...Callaway is now pursuing her career at 5 Star Athletics full-time. She continues to educate youth through her clinics, camps, and group lessons. Callaway also runs camps at local universities, including her alma mater, the University of Maryland, and Catholic University. Callaway was also recently named Deputy Commissioner of ASA Softball for the MD/DC Region.

 Amber Jackson is the 2007 Player of the Year in her rookie season of the National Pro Fastpitch league competing for the 2007 NPF Champion Washington Glory. Jackson was a senior transfer to the University of Maryland who, in one season with the Terps she led the team in 11 offensive categories, while setting school single season records with 24 home runs, 56 RBI’s and 55 walks. Amber ranked third in the country in both walks and per game slugging percentage while ranking 1oth in stolen bases per game and 11th in runs per game. Jackson finished her career as the 12th player in NCAA history to record 300 hits, 200 runs, and 100 stolen bases. Jackson was a three-year letter winner and three-time All-American shortstop at Division I Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla. ... played the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons at B-CC, leading the team to an NCAA Super Regional appearance vs. Texas during a record-breaking 2005 season ... started 202 of 203 games played at Bethune-Cookman ... posted impressive career marks, including batting average (.465), runs (203), hits (285), doubles (45), triples (28), homers (34), RBI's (175) and stolen bases (74 in 81 attempts) ... named a first-team NFCA All-American in 2005 after batting .455 (fifth-highest in the NCAA Division I ranks), with 14 homers, 68 runs batted in and 33 stolen bases ... helped B-CC to a 49-19 record in 2005, including a title in the Gainesville, Fla., regional which included host Florida, South Florida and Central Florida ... B-CC went 21-17 vs. teams that finished in the top 100 of the NCAA's RPI that season, including victories over Florida (twice), Northwestern, Central Florida, South Florida, Virginia Tech, Florida Atlantic and UMass, all of which advanced to the NCAA Tournament ... was a third-team Easton All-American as a sophomore in 2004, leading the team in almost every statistical category, including batting average (.447) and homers (12) ... as a freshman in 2003, she batted an NCAA-best .493, drove in 71 runs and was successful on all 25 of her stolen base attempts on her way to capturing All-America recognition from Easton ... was a three-time MEAC Player of the Year.