Softball has been a part of City College softball coach Jasmyne Perry’s life since she was five years old. Perry became the fourth head softball coach in Vaqueros history on August 3, 2020 and explained how her love and passion for the sport was an important part of landing this job.
During her time at Dos Pueblos High School, 2005-2007, she won All-Channels League honors throughout her three years of playing softball. After high school, Perry had a full ride to a small school in Missouri. However, due to an injury she was unable to complete her college softball career and had to come back home.
Perry kept playing and started coaching in between once she arrived as a student at City College. She played two years of softball before deciding to focus on her academics.
In 2008, when Perry graduated high school, she came back and kicked off her career as an assistant coach at Dos Pueblos High School.
“She has a lot on her plate but she juggles everything very well,” said Mackenzie Ensign, one of the players on the womens’ softball team.
When asked about what their coach does for the team, one other teammate added how they felt.
“She cares about our health a lot and she stands up for us,” Player Alexia Ayala said.
Perry states that the team had to face some tough challenges like hard games, and not being able to practice due to the rain recently. Despite the challenges, the dedicated coach adds that the softball team was able to pull through and overcome their struggles together.
“As a coach, if you focus on the game and not the player, you’re doing it wrong,” Perry said.
She enjoys seeing students and members of the team reach their potential on or off the field. Perry likes to think that they have a good rapport with student athletes and that they have people that will come back to see them play more games.
“My favorite part about being the softball coach is being able to help students and student athletes mold themselves into who they want to be but that is just more than just softball, it’s helping them with life,” Perry said.
Growing up, Perry mentioned that she was surrounded by great coaches making them feel like a second family whenever she needed some guidance. She adds that because of these coaches, she wants to do the same with her student athletes.
She expressed how she wants to help the women on this team take another step forward in life, whether it’s becoming a better student or teammate.
“The girls here are making friendships that will last them a lifetime, I think that’s really great,” Perry said.
After working as an assistant with her second family of coaches, like Susan Bertelsen, Paula Congleton and Justine Bosio, Perry shared that she came down with the decision to stay and work with the women’s softball team at City College.
With her drive of softball and motivation to help others, Perry declares that she will strive to continue guiding her students to be the best they can be and show them that they should be proud of who they are.
“When I was given the opportunity to be an assistant, it was a great fit for me, I didn’t want to go anywhere. I want to keep building this program to be something the community is proud of and the school is proud of and I think that’s important,” Perry said.
