SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State softball head coach Holly Hesse announced today the addition of assistant coach, Kasey Griffith.
 
Griffith arrives in Springfield after spending the last 10 years at Drake University. She started out as a volunteer assistant for the Bulldogs in 2013, before being promoted to assistant coach beginning with the 2015 season.
 
Griffith worked with the Bulldogs' hitters and infielders, and assisted with team travel and game day logistics, directed fundraising efforts and alumni relations and events, and partnered with support staff to ensure team success and cohesion among other duties.
 
Prior to her coaching career, the former Kasey Schlafke, played softball at SIUE. She spent three years playing shortstop before moving to third base in her final season. When she graduated, she ranked fifth all-time in career home runs at SIUE with 18, and she started 182 games in four seasons for the Cougars (2008-11).
 
An excellent student, Griffith was named to the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll twice and to the Great Lakes Valley Conference All-Academic team once. She graduated from SIUE with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in 2011.
 
Griffith was a multi-sport athlete in basketball, softball, track and field and volleyball at Dallas Center Grimes High School (Iowa), where she earned all-conference, all-district and all-state honors in softball. Her head coach for softball was her dad, Steve Schlafke, a longtime and highly-successful high school head coach who has won more than 1,300 games and three state titles leading DCG.
 
Griffith and her husband, Calvin, have two sons, Beckett and Maddox, and one daughter, Nolan.
 
Hesse on Griffith:
"We feel very fortunate to have Kasey join our staff.  She brings with her approximately ten years of experience at the Division I level and success as an assistant coach in the Missouri Valley Conference.  We have watched her up close and personal in our many competitions over the years, and it is clear she has strong relationships with her players and commands their respect.  She has a history of developing highly skilled infielders and talented hitters.  She comes from a legendary softball family in Iowa, including her father who has won over 1,300 games and three state championships as a high school coach.  Her passion for the game runs deep and we look forward to that passion spreading to all aspects of our program.  We welcome Kasey, her husband Cal, and their three children Beckett, Maddox, and Nolan to the Bear Family!"
 
Her hire is contingent upon formal approval by the Missouri State Board of Governors at its next meeting.