FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason softball head coach Joe Verbanic announced the hiring of Carla Shepherd as an assistant coach. Shepherd comes to Mason after spending one season at South Dakota State University following a year stint at Occidental College.

"Coach Shepherd will be a great addition to our staff," noted Verbanic. "With her outstanding pitching background, she will take over the duties as our new pitching coach and will bring great enthusiasm for teaching pitching to the game. Coach is very excited to get settled in, meet everyone and especially get started working with our pitching staff. I am excited to see the impact she will have on our pitching staff and team."

Last season at South Dakota State University, Shepherd instructed pitchers, hitters and outfielders, while assisting with the coordination, practice planning and supervision of the softball program. She monitored student-athlete strength and conditioning workouts, developed scouting reports and worked directly with the pitching staff.

Shepherd spent the 2011 season at Occidental College where she helped the Tigers to an 18-20 overall record, marking the most wins in a single season for the program since its 1986 inception. In addition to setting a team record in wins, the pitching staff set the season record for strikeouts, combining for 126 on the season.  To cap the record-setting season, freshman Jackie Shimamoto was honored by the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a second team selection.

While working on her master's degree, Shepherd spent the summers of 2008 through 2010 working with young athletes on all aspects of the game at softball camps in Baton Rouge, La., hosted by Louisiana State University. The Miami, Fla. native also spent time giving private lessons in both pitching and hitting working at Grand Slam Sports Center in Monrovia, Calif.

After serving as the volunteer assistant coach at the University of the South in 2006, Shepherd became the assistant coach at Louisiana State University at Eunice where she instructed pitchers and catchers. While with the Bengals, Shepherd helped lead the team to a Regional Tournament Appearance. Additionally, Shepherd helped with recruitment operations, monitored student-athlete academic status, directed student-athlete conditioning and coordinated team travel.

"I am extremely excited to be joining the Patriot family and can't wait to get started working with the team," commented Shepherd. "Being a part of Coach Verbanic's staff is a great honor. I am so grateful to him and the entire department for giving me this incredible opportunity to be a part of the George Mason softball program and such a highly successful athletic department."