A former assistant coach at Penn State University and most recently Texas Tech University, Kellyn Tate enters her first season at Miami. Tate, who brings six seasons of college coaching experience to Oxford, joins the Miami staff after a three-year stint with the Red Raiders.

"I am ecstatic that Kellyn has joined our staff here at Miami," head coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly said. "She had a phenomenal playing career at the University of Michigan, through the national team ranks and into her pro career, but it is her coaching style that will benefit our players. She has a tremendous knowledge of the game, specifically with an expertise in hitting instruction, and her passion and enthusiasm for the game is something I look forward to her sharing with the student-athletes."

Entering her seventh season as an assistant in the college ranks, Tate brings both Big 12 and Big Ten experience to Oxford. Prior to her three seasons at Texas Tech (2003-06), Tate was an assistant coach with Schoenly at Penn State (1998-2001) where she helped the Nittany Lions post three straight 30-win seasons and qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and 2001. Tate also mentored five all-conference honorees while at Penn State, including Karen Gulini, Penn State's first National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American since 1985 and the program's first GTE Academic All-American. The Nittany Lions also boasted a productive offense under Tate's watch, batting .284, .295 and .270, respectively, from 1999-2001.

Tate also played college softball with Schoenly at the University of Michigan, compiling an impressive career as a two-time NFCA All-America outfielder (1995-98). While with the Wolverines, Tate was a three-time all-Big Ten honoree while leading the team to three Big Ten regular-season titles, four Big Ten Tournament titles and four consecutive trips to the NCAA Women's College World Series. Michigan won 50 or more games in each of her four seasons in Ann Arbor, including three seasons of 20 or more wins in Big Ten action. Additionally, Tate was a three-time All-Great Lakes Region selection.

A veteran in the professional ranks, Tate played in both the Women's Professional Softball League and National Professional Fastpitch. A two-time all-star in the WPSL, Tate teamed with former Miami head coach Angie Jacobs on the 1998 WPSL Champion Orlando Wahoos and won the league's batting title with the Akron Racers in 1999. Tate also was a member of the Sacramento Sunbirds in NPF during the 2004 campaign.

Additionally, Tate spent time with the United States National Softball Team, as she was a member of the national team from 1996-97.

Honored with Michigan's athletic achievement award for having consecutive grade-point averages of 3.0, Tate earned her bachleor's degree in sports management and communications in August of 1998. Tate then went on to earn her master's degree in higher education from Texas Tech in August of 2003.