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George Washington University Athletics
Softball Adds Meacham as Volunteer Assistant Coach
9/3/2021 11:15:00 AM | Softball
National Softball Hall of Famer joins staff
WASHINGTON - Avon Meacham has joined the GW softball staff as a volunteer assistant coach, Head Coach Chrissy Schoonmaker announced Friday.
A long-time representative of USA Softball as a player and coach and member of the National Softball Hall of Fame, Meacham brings a wealth of experience at the highest levels of the sport, including a four-year run in the D-I collegiate ranks on staff at South Florida. The D.C. native has most recently served as an assistant coach with the U.S. Junior Men's National Team and also helped train the U.S. Women's National Team ahead of its trip to the Tokyo Olympics.
"I am thrilled to welcome Avon Meacham to our coaching staff at GW," Schoonmaker said. "Avon has an infectious energy about him and our student-athletes will love working with him. He has competed and coached at the highest levels across the globe, and his experience at both the international and the collegiate levels makes him an invaluable addition to our staff.
"Avon's outfield expertise and short-game knowledge will make an immediate impact on our student-athletes. He is a Hall of Famer and a proven leader, and he will be a strong mentor to our student-athletes. I am delighted to welcome Avon and his family to GW."
Meacham's ties to USA Softball run deep. He's been a member of the organization's Board of Directors and a regular instructor within its camps and clinics around the country.
Representing Team USA, Meacham spent seven years on staff with the Men's National Team, highlighted by a silver-medal showing at the 2007 World Championships, before joining the Junior Men's National staff, and he's currently involved within the women's game as a member of the selection committee for both the National and Junior National teams.
Meacham was a standout center fielder during his playing days on the international fast-pitch circuit. He represented the U.S. at three Pan American Games and twice earned All-World recognition at the International Softball Congress World Championships.
Meacham joins recently-announced Assistant Coach Teresa Fister on Schoonmaker's staff for her first season leading the Buff and Blue.
"I am extremely excited to be coaching collegiate softball again, especially the chance to be doing it at home in D.C.," Meacham said. "I want to thank Chrissy Schoonmaker for the opportunity, and I'm ready to get to work with a group that has such a bright future ahead."
Meacham graduated from Cardozo High School in the District and enjoyed a decorated football career at Maryland Eastern Shore before becoming one of the world's top fast-pitch softball players.
While balancing a career in the federal government, Meacham made a name for himself on the diamond over a playing career that spanned more than two decades.
In addition to his success with Team USA, he was a two-time U.S. Amateur Softball Association national champion with the Decatur Pride in 1994 and 1995 and three-time All-American. The Washington Post once called the speedy lead-off man "the Joe Morgan of fast-pitch softball."
As a coach, Meacham has led the U.S. National Team at tournaments around the globe, including international competitions in New Zealand, Prague, Guatemala and Canada. Most recently, he helped the Men's Junior National Team to earn a berth to the 2020 World Championships.
For four seasons from 2014-17, he was in the D-I college game on staff at USF where he helped the Bulls to 156 wins and two NCAA Tournament berths. The 2016 squad won an AAC regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Columbia Regional before Meacham and his colleagues were named the Mideast Regional Staff of the Year by the NFCA.
His coaching resume also includes a three-year stint as an assistant at D-III Columbia Union College in Maryland and two seasons as head coach of the DC Metros men's fast-pitch squad.
In 2006, Meacham was inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame, and he's also a member of the Greater D.C. Softball Hall of Fame, Kingman Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame and Maryland Eastern Shore Athletic Hall of Fame.
Now retired after more than three decades in civil service as a budget director, Meacham holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Maryland Eastern Shore and a master's in Business Management from Bowie State.
A long-time representative of USA Softball as a player and coach and member of the National Softball Hall of Fame, Meacham brings a wealth of experience at the highest levels of the sport, including a four-year run in the D-I collegiate ranks on staff at South Florida. The D.C. native has most recently served as an assistant coach with the U.S. Junior Men's National Team and also helped train the U.S. Women's National Team ahead of its trip to the Tokyo Olympics.
"I am thrilled to welcome Avon Meacham to our coaching staff at GW," Schoonmaker said. "Avon has an infectious energy about him and our student-athletes will love working with him. He has competed and coached at the highest levels across the globe, and his experience at both the international and the collegiate levels makes him an invaluable addition to our staff.
"Avon's outfield expertise and short-game knowledge will make an immediate impact on our student-athletes. He is a Hall of Famer and a proven leader, and he will be a strong mentor to our student-athletes. I am delighted to welcome Avon and his family to GW."
Meacham's ties to USA Softball run deep. He's been a member of the organization's Board of Directors and a regular instructor within its camps and clinics around the country.
Representing Team USA, Meacham spent seven years on staff with the Men's National Team, highlighted by a silver-medal showing at the 2007 World Championships, before joining the Junior Men's National staff, and he's currently involved within the women's game as a member of the selection committee for both the National and Junior National teams.
Meacham was a standout center fielder during his playing days on the international fast-pitch circuit. He represented the U.S. at three Pan American Games and twice earned All-World recognition at the International Softball Congress World Championships.
Meacham joins recently-announced Assistant Coach Teresa Fister on Schoonmaker's staff for her first season leading the Buff and Blue.
"I am extremely excited to be coaching collegiate softball again, especially the chance to be doing it at home in D.C.," Meacham said. "I want to thank Chrissy Schoonmaker for the opportunity, and I'm ready to get to work with a group that has such a bright future ahead."
Meacham graduated from Cardozo High School in the District and enjoyed a decorated football career at Maryland Eastern Shore before becoming one of the world's top fast-pitch softball players.
While balancing a career in the federal government, Meacham made a name for himself on the diamond over a playing career that spanned more than two decades.
In addition to his success with Team USA, he was a two-time U.S. Amateur Softball Association national champion with the Decatur Pride in 1994 and 1995 and three-time All-American. The Washington Post once called the speedy lead-off man "the Joe Morgan of fast-pitch softball."
As a coach, Meacham has led the U.S. National Team at tournaments around the globe, including international competitions in New Zealand, Prague, Guatemala and Canada. Most recently, he helped the Men's Junior National Team to earn a berth to the 2020 World Championships.
For four seasons from 2014-17, he was in the D-I college game on staff at USF where he helped the Bulls to 156 wins and two NCAA Tournament berths. The 2016 squad won an AAC regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Columbia Regional before Meacham and his colleagues were named the Mideast Regional Staff of the Year by the NFCA.
His coaching resume also includes a three-year stint as an assistant at D-III Columbia Union College in Maryland and two seasons as head coach of the DC Metros men's fast-pitch squad.
In 2006, Meacham was inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame, and he's also a member of the Greater D.C. Softball Hall of Fame, Kingman Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame and Maryland Eastern Shore Athletic Hall of Fame.
Now retired after more than three decades in civil service as a budget director, Meacham holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Maryland Eastern Shore and a master's in Business Management from Bowie State.
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