Weber State University Athletics
Q&A with Head Coach Mary Kay Amicone
4/16/2020 10:53:00 AM | Softball
Weber State softball head coach Mary Kay Amicone answers questions about her favorite memories at Weber State and more.Â
QUESTION: What is your favorite memory as a coach at Weber State?
MARY KAY AMICONE:Â I have so many great memories it's hard to pick just one, so here's a couple. Our 2016 season when we hosted the Big Sky Tournament and won to advance to the NCAA Regionals in Seattle was one of the best memories for me. We had made such great progress throughout the year and we learned how to win together. We had a great team chemistry and they played hard for each other. We were able to set a new standard of excellence for our program that season.Â
Also, last year was very special as well. We went on an incredible run during conference play and rode that momentum into the postseason. We had our best season ever and made Big Sky Conference Softball history by winning the first ever NCAA game at an NCAA Regional by beating Cal State Fullerton at the UCLA regional.
Q: What is your favorite thing about coaching?
MA: My favorite thing about coaching is the lasting relationships that I get to make. I love seeing these young women grow into strong, independent women who work very hard and do amazing things on and off the field.Â
Q: What is your favorite athletic moment you've ever witnessed?
MA: My favorite athletic moment was when I was an assistant coach at the University of Utah. We played a 56 inning double header that lasted over 12 hours straight! It was a conference championship against Creighton in Omaha. We were the undefeated team and we lost the championship game in 31 innings and had to play the If game that started at 12:30 p.m. and it went 25 innings!! It was before the tie-breaker rule went into effect. We won and advanced to the World Series that season. It was incredible!
Q: What is the best advice you've ever been given?
MA: Always remember: True leaders must learn from their failures, use the lessons to motivate themselves, and not be afraid to try again or make the next tough decision and any success should not be attributed to me alone;it was the work of us all.
Q: What was your first ever job?Â
MA: My first job was sorting and packing cherries when I was 15. I threw my share of cherries!
Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of softball?
MA:I love reading, playing racquetball and pickleball. I also enjoy biking and river walks.
Q: What's the last book you read?Â
MA:Â It Takes What It Takes by Trevor Moawad and The Velveteen Rabbit
Q: Do you have any game day superstitions or routines?
MA: Never cross the bats and never talk about a no hitter before the game is over.
Q: Who is one of your biggest influences in the softball community?
MA: I've always admired former UCLA coach, Sue Enquist and current Michigan Coach Hutch. I love the positive impact they have had throughout the years.Â
Q: What's the story behind your nickname Punk?
MA: My nickname is Punk. I was a sophomore at Murray High School and was playing basketball on the high school team. My coach, Layne Whittaker was very tall and he would block every layup that I attempted in our practices. He kept saying, why are you driving in here with that, you're nothing but a Punk. All my teammates started calling me Punk and it stuck.
Q: What are some of your thoughts on the pandemic of the world?
MA: My thoughts on the current pandemic. It's humbling. We are all in new territory now. We believe in and teach that we all need to sacrifice for the greater good. We believe the TEAM is bigger than the individual. Now the health and safety of our community depends on us to sacrifice many things that we love like going to school and playing softball. Our season ended suddenly and most of us are still trying to understand how to respond.We need to do what it takes for the greater good. We need to support staying home and washing our hands to stay safe so that we can get back to doing the things that we all love to do.
