Kennesaw State University Athletics

Amanda Williams Paz begins her third season as an assistant coach with the Kennesaw State softball program after being appointed to the position prior to the 2015 season. She serves as outfield and hitting coach, and coaches first base.

Under Williams Paz' tutelage, Owls hitters have earned seven Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) all-conference honors. Natalie Rhodes and Courtney Sutter were first-team all-conference honorees, while Taylor Denton and Megan Veringa earned second-team recognition.

In 2016, Denton and Sutter, along with Kara Chambers, were second-team selections.

Additionally, Williams Paz work with the baserunners paid off in a significant way as Denton became KSU's all-time single-season and career stolen base leader during the 2016 season.

Williams Paz comes to Kennesaw State after spending six seasons at Marshall University in Huntington, W.V., including serving as the associate head coach during her final season with the Thundering Herd in 2013. She was a volunteer assistant coach from 2006 to 2008, before being promoted to the position of assistant coach, which she held for four seasons.
 
The outfield coach and co-hitting coach, she assisted with the infield and served as the first base coach, where Marshall achieved astonishing numbers on the base paths. In 2011, Marshall was number one in the country for stolen bases per game (2.52) after 134 steals and beat that number in 2012 with 135 swipes during that season. With the help of Williams Paz, four of the top five single-season stolen base marks at Marshall have come under her direction.
 
Along with her success on the base paths, Williams Paz created opponent scouting reports, as well as serving as the alumni coordinator and the “Lil Sis” community outreach program coordinator. She also helped in recruiting and various administrative duties while at Marshall.
 
A four-year starter in centerfield for the Herd, Williams was a four-time first team all-conference selection, including three first-team all-Mid-American picks and a first-team all-Conference USA honoree in 2006. Williams was a three-time first team all-region honoree, and also picked up a second-team all-region nod, MAC Freshman of the Year (2003), the Parthanon's 2003 Female Athlete of the Year, and was also named Player of the Week seven times throughout her career. She also excelled in the classroom achieving NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete status and was a member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. Williams, who still holds numerous single season and career records, was inducted into the M Club in 2010.
 
She was drafted by the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and played her rookie year in 2006, winning a regular season title with the Bandits. She played for the Rockford Thunder from 2007-09, helping them to a league title while also being named a NPF All-Star. She also played for the Tennessee Diamonds, before returning to Chicago, where she captured her second NPF Championship in 2011.

Williams was inducted into the Harrison High School Hall of Fame as a player in 2013 and she, along with the 2000 Hoyas state championship team were inducted in 2015. 
 
Williams has previously worked as a professional softball instructor with Top Tier Sports since the fall of 2013.
 
She earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology with a minor in psychology in 2006, before earning a master’s in athletic administration in 2008, both coming from Marshall.

Williams Paz resides in Dallas, Ga., with her husband, Erik Paz, and their first child, Kaleb, who was born February 16, 2016.