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Getting to Know Assistant Coach Sydney Romero
12/7/2022 11:29:00 AM | Softball
DURHAM – Assistant coach Sydney Romero is another new face to join the Blue Devils coaching staff this year. Romero will serve as the team's hitting and infield coach.
Romero joins the program after serving as a graduate assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, for the past two seasons, following her prolific collegiate career.
In addition to serving as a graduate assistant coach, Romero has continued to play softball professionally, competing with Athletes Unlimited since 2020. Prior to her time with AU, Romero was the third overall pick in the 2019 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft by the USSSA Pride, where she was named to the 2019 All-NPF Team.
Romero made waves in her time as a Sooner, earning two first team All-America selections and winning two national championships in 2016 and 2017. Romero was named the 2019 Big 12 Player of the Year and was a top-three finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award in the same season. She graduated as the program's all-time leader in at-bats and doubles.
The San Diego, Calif., native recently finished her master's degree in adult and higher education with an emphasis in intercollegiate athletics administration, from Oklahoma. Romero also earned her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma, majoring in criminology.
Q&A
How have the first few months in Durham been so far?
"My first couple of months in Durham have been everything and more. The transition has been very smooth and with the help of the coaches and players they've made my first fall of coaching a great experience."
Can you talk about your early days of playing softball and how you got into the sport?
"My dad played baseball growing up and my older sister and I would watch him play. Once my sister started softball, I remember idolizing everything she did and wanting to be a part of it all. From a young age, I knew softball would become my forever thing because of how much I loved the sport, loved getting better at what I do and striving to become the best in anything that I do."
What are your goals for your first year at Duke and what is one impact you want to leave on your players?
"My goal for my first year at Duke is to continue to compete at a high level, allow my players to play freely with confidence and help them in any way that I can on and off the field. Everyone's goal is to win, but there are steps to get there and I am willing to help this team be the best that they can be!"
What do you feel you are bringing to Duke with this new team?
"I believe that I am bringing an experienced players perspective that will help them understand ideas from a different lens. Whether it is with hitting, approaches, confidence, and game planning. I feel that I will bring a different level of learning but also providing more than one way of doing something which is very important to me."
Quick Hits
Favorite sports icons: Sierra Romero, Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, Jennie Finch
Favorite sport outside of softball: Baseball
Favorite movie: Bridesmaids
What is your spirit animal: Lion
Favorite band/artist: Wild Rivers, Mitchell Tenpenny, Chris Tomlin, Luke Combs, Jordan Davis
Favorite childhood board game: Candyland
Go-to midnight snack: Coffee ice cream
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere with family
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL".
#GoDuke
Romero joins the program after serving as a graduate assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, for the past two seasons, following her prolific collegiate career.
In addition to serving as a graduate assistant coach, Romero has continued to play softball professionally, competing with Athletes Unlimited since 2020. Prior to her time with AU, Romero was the third overall pick in the 2019 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft by the USSSA Pride, where she was named to the 2019 All-NPF Team.
Romero made waves in her time as a Sooner, earning two first team All-America selections and winning two national championships in 2016 and 2017. Romero was named the 2019 Big 12 Player of the Year and was a top-three finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award in the same season. She graduated as the program's all-time leader in at-bats and doubles.
The San Diego, Calif., native recently finished her master's degree in adult and higher education with an emphasis in intercollegiate athletics administration, from Oklahoma. Romero also earned her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma, majoring in criminology.
Q&A
How have the first few months in Durham been so far?
"My first couple of months in Durham have been everything and more. The transition has been very smooth and with the help of the coaches and players they've made my first fall of coaching a great experience."
Can you talk about your early days of playing softball and how you got into the sport?
"My dad played baseball growing up and my older sister and I would watch him play. Once my sister started softball, I remember idolizing everything she did and wanting to be a part of it all. From a young age, I knew softball would become my forever thing because of how much I loved the sport, loved getting better at what I do and striving to become the best in anything that I do."
What are your goals for your first year at Duke and what is one impact you want to leave on your players?
"My goal for my first year at Duke is to continue to compete at a high level, allow my players to play freely with confidence and help them in any way that I can on and off the field. Everyone's goal is to win, but there are steps to get there and I am willing to help this team be the best that they can be!"
What do you feel you are bringing to Duke with this new team?
"I believe that I am bringing an experienced players perspective that will help them understand ideas from a different lens. Whether it is with hitting, approaches, confidence, and game planning. I feel that I will bring a different level of learning but also providing more than one way of doing something which is very important to me."
Quick Hits
Favorite sports icons: Sierra Romero, Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, Jennie Finch
Favorite sport outside of softball: Baseball
Favorite movie: Bridesmaids
What is your spirit animal: Lion
Favorite band/artist: Wild Rivers, Mitchell Tenpenny, Chris Tomlin, Luke Combs, Jordan Davis
Favorite childhood board game: Candyland
Go-to midnight snack: Coffee ice cream
Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere with family
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL".
#GoDuke
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