The University of Houston is making a clear statement with its latest move in the Big 12: it has hired Chrissy Schoonmaker as the next head coach of Cougar Softball.
Schoonmaker, who spent the past four seasons as the head coach at George Washington, brings a track record of turning struggling programs into contenders—and she’ll need every bit of that experience to elevate Houston in one of the nation’s toughest softball leagues.
During her time at GW, Schoonmaker compiled an 80–71 record and earned Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors in her first season. That 2021 campaign saw the Colonials finish 36–17 overall, including 21–3 in league play, with a top‑100 RPI and a trip to the conference final.
The turnaround was no fluke: after starting 6–10, GW ripped off 13 straight wins and took 27 of its final 30 games. That kind of in-season adaptability and grit is exactly what Houston has lacked since making the jump to Power Five competition.
For Houston fans, this hire signals a fresh start. Schoonmaker brings coaching stability, player development chops, and an identity rooted in blue-collar toughness. She’s also stepping into a recruiting hotbed. With the Cougars’ entrance into the Big 12 proving diffuclt through the first two years, expect her to lean into the transfer portal until the region’s deep talent pool can build a foundation. The Cougars’ immediate future will likely hinge on what Schoonmaker does in the transfer portal and how quickly she can assemble a competitive roster.
The Big 12 isn’t forgiving. Programs like Texas Tech and Arizona, plus Oklahoma State have raised the standard for national relevance, and Houston is still finding its footing. But in Schoonmaker, UH is betting on a builder. She’s shown she can take a team from the bottom of the standings to the top—and do it quickly.
Bottom line: this isn’t a splashy name hire—it’s a calculated one. Schoonmaker’s track record suggests she’s a culture shifter, not a placeholder. And if Houston is serious about competing in the Big 12, that’s exactly the kind of leadership the program needs.
