Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) athletic director Ethan Hamilton has named Cheryl Schaefer as the interim head coach of the university’s softball program. Schaefer, a former PLNU player and a member of the coaching staff for six seasons, becomes the eighth head coach in the softball program’s history. After a stellar playing career, Schaefer joined Dave Williams’ coaching staff in 2004 and served as associate head coach for the last two seasons. During those six years, the Sea Lions have compiled a 271-86 overall record (.759 winning percentage) and qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship tournament each season. PLNU was national runner-up in 2007 and finished third at the national level on two occasions in 2006 and 2008. Schaefer has also helped mentor 28 All-Golden State Athletics Conference (GSAC) players and 13 All-Americans. Schaefer (then Bolding) was a dominating player for PLNU from 2000-03. She was a three-time first-team All-American, a three-time GSAC Player of the Year (2001-03) and a two-time NAIA Player of the Year (2001 and 2002). With Schaefer manning shortstop and leading off the batting order, PLNU won two GSAC and two Region II titles, played in the NAIA national championship tournament three times and reached the NAIA title game in 2002. When her college playing days ended, Schaefer had the most career stolen bases, career hits and the most hits in a single season for an NAIA player. She still ranks in the NAIA top 10 in numerous offensive categories, and her name is in the PLNU university career and single-season record book in 17 places. She was inducted into the PLNU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. In addition to her collegiate career, Schaefer played for the Arizona Heat — a professional softball franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League — for two years (2004-05). In 2004, she led the Heat in hits and earned a spot on the NPF All-Star team. A native of Visalia, Schaefer now lives in La Mesa with her husband, Joe (PLNU’s head baseball coach), and their two sons, Braydon and Reilly. — From staff and contribution