Coaching Staff
Amanda Hayes | Assistant Coach
Amanda Hayes is in her third season as a member of the Furman softball staff and second as a full time assistant coach.
After serving as a volunteer assistant in 2022, Hayes helped the 2023 Paladin, 20-32 overall and 8-9 in league play, to a third place finish in the SoCon standings. Senior Riley Ludlam captured SoCon Player of the Year honors while first baseman Kiley Perry earned SoCon Freshman of the Year accolades. The duo were joined on the All-SoCon First Team by junior centerfielder Ashlee Lykins and freshman designated player Sylvia Burroughs.
Hayes previous served as assistant coach at Limestone from 2017-21. She helped lead the Saints to a South Atlantic Conference title in 2017, when the team posted a 35-12 overall record. Hayes assisted in development of practice plans, physical conditioning programs, and recruiting, among other duties.
In addition to her coaching experience at Limestone, Hayes coached weekly clinics with Winthrop and monthly clinics with Upward Stars in Spartanburg. She was the co-head coach of the Rock Hill Surge in 2017 and 2018, and served as co-head JV coach and assistant varsity coach at Pickens High School in 2017.
Hayes competed at Limestone from 2012 through 2014 and led the team to regular season conference titles in 2013 and 2014. She earned all-conference accolades in 2014 and was honored with the All Saints Award for Leadership and Integrity in 2014.
A native of Pickens, S.C., Hayes earned a bachelor’s degree in physical eduction/strength and conditioning with a minor in coaching from Limestone in 2014.
Adrienne Nix | Volunteer Assistant Coach
Adrienne Nix joined the Furman coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach in the summer of 2022. A standout catcher and teammate of Coach Johnson-Whitfield's at South Carolina, she helped the Gamecocks to three NCAA regionals and the 2000 SEC Tournament championship. As a four-year starter, Nix paced the program in hits in 2000 en route to earning second team All-SEC honors.
"Furman softball is very lucky to have Adrienne as our new volunteer assistant coach this season," said Johnson-Whitfield. "Not only does she bring experience and knowledge of the game from all levels, be she will help continue to build our culture."
Following her playing career, Nix has coached travel ball for Carolina Elite Genovese and spent one season as an assistant at Southern Wesleyan University under head coach Coy Adkins. The California native has given hitting and catching lessons in the Greenville area for the past 13 years.
Nix is married to former University of South Carolina baseball player Stan Nix and the couple have two children, Anthony and Campbell.