Coaching Staff 11 Snyder began gaining coaching experience in recreation leagues in Aiken while he was a young man. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at North Augusta High School. He primarily worked with the pitchers for Beth Meyer’s Lady Jackets squad. Prior to becoming head coach at USC Aiken, Snyder worked at the Savannah River Site for EI Dupont until 1987 when he decided to return to college to get his degree. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from USC Aiken in 1991 and earned his Master’s in Sports Science from
Erin Ward
Assistant Coach Fifth Season
Erin Ward will be entering her fifth season as the Pacers assistant softball coach for the 2013 season. Her main duties at USC Aiken are assisting in on-field instruction and recruiting. Ward has helped guide the Pacers to the NCAA Division II Tournament in two of the last four seasons. She also helped the Pacers earn their first ever national ranking in 2009. Prior to joining the USC Aiken softball program, Ward was a successful 18U SC X-Treme travel softball team head coach in Summerville, S.C. for three seasons. She was able to recruit highly competitive players that contributed to placing in the top-two spots in 75 percent of the tournaments in which her teams competed. Ward coached two future all-Americans and saw 91 percent of her players go on to receive a softball scholarship, including five of them that came to USC Aiken. “Erin brings an excellent knowledge of the game of softball to our program,” Snyder noted at the time of Ward’s arrival. “She has a high level of enthusiasm and expects perfection
the United States Sports Academy in 1995. Snyder says he has several memories and highlights from his time at USC Aiken, but he is most proud of the record of his students in the classroom and after they have left his program. “The biggest highlight since I have been here is that my players have graduated and have gone on with their lives to become successful people,” Snyder said. “You should measure your success with what your student-athletes do in the classroom, instead of what they do on the field.” from the players she works with. She has a great eye for talent and has an abundance of connections in the travel ballranks up and down the east coast. Erin is a perfect fit for our program and is a vital piece of the puzzle of our success.” Ward was so successful that her team of 16-under won the ISA World Series held in Florence, SC in 2004. She also assisted in expanding the organization from one team to six. Before taking over the 18U SC X- Treme program, Ward was the Head Softball Coach at Ashley Hall School in Charleston, S.C. where she was responsible for the everyday operations of the team. Ward was also the Head Coach at the Summerville Little League in Summerville, S.C. where she oversaw the entire league, major and minor league teams. She was responsible for developing basic softball skills in young players. Ward played collegiate ball at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, W. Va. where her team was crowned the conference champions in 1996. Ward graduated from Thomas Edison State College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering and technology. She completed a five-year tour of duty in the United States Navy aboard the USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) from 1997-2001.
The program has posted 20-win seasons in 18 of the past 19 seasons. During his time as head coach, the Pacer program has had 18 AllConference players, a Peach Belt Player of the Year, three Peach Belt Freshmen of the Year, eight All-Region players and an All-American. The program has also had four players honored as CoSIDA Academic All-District selections. Snyder and his wife Kelly have two sons, Tony and James. The Snyder family resides in Aiken, S.C.
William “Papa” Dyches Volunteer Assistant Coach Ninth Season
William Dyches will enter his ninth season as a volunteer assistant coach at USC Aiken in 2013. He started helping Coach Snyder when his granddaughter, Ashley Dyches, was a Pacer from 2004-07. Dyches is a retiree from the Aiken County School District as the Area 1 plumber. He is the husband of Mary Ann Dyches. Dyches enjoys coaching and helping out around the softball field. He also is involved in helping his grandchildren in basketball at Midland Valley in Aiken, S.C. and Richmond Academy in Augusta, Ga.
Seven 30-Win Seasons (1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009)