State Fair Community College Softball Head Coach Lyndsey Talbot has announced the addition of Michele Rupard as the new part-time assistant softball coach. Rupard brings experience as a student-athlete, collegiate coach and umpire to her new position.
"I have known Michele for about six years," said Talbot. "I had the opportunity to coach her at Central Methodist and watch her mature over the years. Her knowledge of the game of softball is better than most people that I've been around. I'm very excited to have her work with our catchers, pitchers and hitters. She will be involved in all aspects of the team."
Rupard most recently served as a tournament director for Midwest Sports Production in Kansas City. She also served as a baseball and softball umpire for Metro Umpires KC from June 2012 to the present.
Rupard served as the head coach for the Central Methodist University (CMU) reserve team from August 2017 to May 2018. She recruited and conducted reserve team practices for 30 student-athletes.
From August 2016 through May 2018, Rupard served as a graduate assistant softball coach at CMU. She assisted with varsity hitting, worked with catchers and outfielders, and organized fundraising and student-athlete schedules.
Prior to her time at CMU as a coach, she was as an assistant softball coach at Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods from August 2015 to May 2016.
Rupard had a standout four-year playing career at CMU. She was a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American catcher in 2014 and 2015. She was named the NFCA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Catcher of the Year in 2014 and earned NAIA All-American honors three times as a catcher in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Rupard earned a Missouri Sports Hall Of Fame Special Achievement Award in 2014.
As a student-athlete, Rupard was named to CMU dean's list three times. In 2015, she earned NFCA Academic All-American honors and received the Darla Pannier Outstanding Female Athlete Award.
I'm excited for Michele to be at SFCC," said Talbot. "I know she's ready to hit the ground running. She will be an asset on the recruiting trail."
Rupard earned her bachelor's degree from CMU in June 2015 in Athletic Training. She earned a master's degree in Athletic Administration from CMU in May 2018. She resides in Sedalia.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics