Erin Gallagher, a 23-year coaching veteran from Southern California, is in her second season as an assistant coach at Samford.

"The variety and depth of Erin's experience has already been a huge asset to our team," said Head Coach Beanie Ketcham. "She is a very detail-oriented person and definitely excels in the mental aspects of the game. We are very fortunate to have her as a part of our program."

Gallagher, who played competitively at Oregon State in the early 1980s, started her coaching career in 1984 as an assistant at El Camino College in Torrance, Calif. She later moved on to East Los Angeles College and most recently joined the Bulldogs after spending two years as the top assistant at Western Oregon University.

During her time at Western Oregon, a Division II program in Monmouth, Ore., Gallagher's responsibilities included the administration of practice, training, player relations, travel, recruiting, field maintenance, media production and game management. She played a major role in establishing Western Oregon as a competitive softball program.

Before her stint at Western Oregon, Gallagher served as the head coach at Tustin High School in Southern California.

From 1999 to 2003, she led THS to three straight league championships (2000-02) and finished among the top eight teams in Division III CIF in 2000. Her 2001 squad posted an unblemished record in league play and finished as one of the top 16 programs in Division III. For her efforts, Gallagher was selected to coach the South team in the annual all-star game.

Gallagher spent nine years at the community college level, beginning at El Camino College in 1984 and moving on to Orange Coast College in 1995 in Southern California.

During the last 12 years, she has conducted numerous coaching seminars on the West coast and overseas. She also has led ­several U.S. teams in international competition.

Gallagher played collegiate softball at Oregon State University and led the Beavers to a fifth-place finish at the 1980 College World Series. She also lettered in cross-country at OSU.