Santa Barbara City hires Jasmyne Perry as Head Softball Coach
SANTA BARBARA - Santa Barbara City College Director of Athletics Rocco Constantino has announced the hiring of Jasymne Perry as the new Head Softball Coach of the Vaqueros. Perry, an SBCC alum, takes over for Justine Bosio, who resigned earlier this summer. Perry had been Bosio's assistant coach the past two seasons and played for SBCC during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
"I am honored and excited to lead SBCC's softball team," said Perry. "I take so much pride in this program and will work extremely hard to elevate it to our goals on and off the field."
Constantino saw potential in Perry during her time as an assistant coach.
"I thought Jasmyne did a great job in her role with the team," said Constantino. "Coach Bosio spoke highly of her and I know our student-athletes enjoyed her as a coach. I also know that she prioritizes the education of our students first and foremost, and that's what is most important."
Perry becomes just the fourth Head Coach in the program's 23-year history. After Susan Bertelson served as head coach in 1997 and '98, the first two years of the program's existence, Paula Congleton helmed the Vaqueros for the next 19 seasons before Bosio's three-year stint. The Vaqueros 2020 season was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic after playing just one Western State Conference game.
Perry is the latest hire in what has been a spring and summer of major changes to the Vaqueros Athletics Department. In addition to softball, SBCC has hired new coaches in Men's Basketball, Men's and Women's Track and Field and Women's Golf. They are in the process of a search for a new Men's Volleyball Head Coach as well. Perry becomes the third Assistant Coach to be elevated to Head Coach this summer.
"We have been very fortunate to have highly skilled assistant coaches in many of our programs," said Constantino. "I strongly believe in creating an atmosphere in our department where hard work and loyalty are rewarded. It's a real benefit to students when they are coached by someone who has already been successful in this environment. Jasmyne is a perfect example of that. She did well as a student-athlete here, graduated to a four-year school and then moved on to receive her Master's Degree. Jasmyne then returned to SBCC and has been an excellent coach in our department right from the start. She's a great role model for our student-athletes."
A Santa Barbara native, Perry graduated from Dos Pueblos High School before moving on to SBCC and then Cal State Monterey Bay. She completed her Master's Degree through Gonzaga.
Perry cites a holistic approach to education, something is prioritized in the SBCC Athletics Department.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to mentor these student-athletes not just as softball players," said Perry. "I want to help prepare them for their next steps in life and become successful individuals within our community."
Perry comes into a school year that largely remains unsettled due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. The Western State Conference has not released the 2021 schedules yet, but the earliest Perry will make her coaching debut will be April 10 as the start of the season has already been pushed back as the CCCAA reorganizes their playing seasons.
Perry resides in Santa Barbara with her husband, Matthew and two children, two-year old Brooklyn and six-month old Ryelyn.
(Dave Loveton, Santa Barbara City)