RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky softball head coach Jane Worthington announced the additions of Zoe Schafer as an Assistant Coach and Ryan Kirkwood as Director of Softball Operations on Wednesday afternoon.
 
"I am thrilled to add both Zoe and Ryan to our staff," said Worthington. "They are both extremely dedicated individuals who will make our program better and I am certain our players will enjoy having them here."
 
Zoe Schafer joins EKU after a one-year stint at Tennessee Tech, where she was an assistant coach on Michelle DePolo's staff. In her year in Cookeville, Tenn., Zoe assisted in student-athlete development and recruiting efforts for the softball program. During the 2021-22 season, Tennessee Tech went 33-22 and made the second round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.
 
"I want to thank Coach Worthington and the athletic department leadership for giving me the opportunity to join the EKU coaching staff," said Schafer. "I am very excited to help continue the championship tradition of EKU softball. I have such respect for this program, having played against them in my collegiate career. I'm so excited about the talented players we have, and I am looking forward to getting to work with them both on and off the field."
 
Schafer's notoriety as a prominent college hitter impacted the Golden Eagles' effort last season, Tennessee Tech ended the year with 57 home runs and an overall .276 team batting average under her purview.
 
Zoe spent her playing career with SIUE, who was no stranger to EKU during the Colonels time in the OVC. She ended her career as the program leader in home runs and RBIs. She also comes in at second in program history in doubles and was the first player in school history to go two seasons without committing an error.
 
The Noblesville, Ind. product departed SIUE as one of the most decorated players in program history, earning three All-OVC selections (2018, 2019, and 2021), 2017 All-OVC Newcomer in 2017, and an All-Tournament nod in 2018. Off the field, Zoe excelled in her academics, earning the Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in 2018 and served on the SIUE Student Advisory Committee chapter.
 
The Colonels also welcome Ryan Kirkwood, who will join the EKU staff as the first full-time Director of Softball Operations in program history.
 
Kirkwood spent the previous season as a Graduate Assistant for the Texas A&M-Commerce softball program. His duties included recruiting, scheduling team travel and practice plans, arranging on-campus visits for prospective student-athletes, and assisting the development of middle infielders, all while earning a bachelor's degree.
 
Prior to his time with TAMUC, Ryan served as a baseball operation intern with University of Tennessee Athletics, gaining experience in day-to-day operations of the program, facilitating travel plans, equipment needs, and on-campus visits. He also assisted the program on their 2021 NCAA College World Series run in Omaha, Neb.
 
Kirkwood earned an associate's degree from Clarendon College, while assisting the baseball program as a student-manager.