The Eastern softball team didn’t have to search far to find its new assistant coach when the Panthers announced Mike Clayton would join the staff earlier this week.

Clayton has served as the Lantz Arena and Facilities Supervisor for the past 13 years, and being familiar with the Eastern campus should help out as he adjusts to his new position according to Panther head coach Lloydene Searle.

“I really think working at Eastern will be a benefit,” Searle said. “Already he has done a wonderful job out on the field, and it will be nice to have a new set of eyes evaluating the players.”

This will be Clayton’s first coaching job at the college level; however, he is anything but a stranger to the sport. Clayton coached recreation league girls softball for several years through the Charleston Girls Softball Association, and he coached a summer traveling 14-under and 18-under girls softball team that advanced to the USSSA World Series.

“He has come to learn a tremendous amount of knowledge in softball,” Searle said. “He’s dealt with parents, and he has experience going to the College World Series. He brings a lot more than just hitting and pitching tips, he is a genuine assistant coach.”

Besides being the head coach, Searle also serves as the pitching coach, but she said Clayton will not have any specific job titles.

“He’s really been all around the game,” Searle said. “He’s worked with pitchers before, but he can help at every level here at Eastern.”

Clayton has only been on the job for one week, but Searle already saw an improvement with the team and said the players have reacted well to his hiring.

“We had a pitcher stay after practice a few days ago, and he gave her some pointers and today she went out and pitched a two-hitter,” Searle said.

“He has a great ability to say things to motivate you, but he is also a people person with a tender heart and that will help the athlete.”

Searle is not expecting every thing to go as smoothly as the first week went with Clayton, but she said the season can’t start soon enough.

“He’s still getting to know the players and has to get on the same page with them,” Searle said. “There still needs to be some growing (between coach and player), but I’m just looking forward to the start of the season.”

Clayton replaces Tiffany Ozburn who resigned before the start of the season.

The Panthers will open their season in late February at the Charleston Southern Invite in South Carolina.