Entering her first season as an assistant coach for the Rams is Danielle (Cassara) Thacker.
Thacker comes to Shepherd after serving as a private pitching/hitting instructor for over 15 years, training such athletes as the Dominican Republic National Team (2003). She has given lessons in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. Thacker has served as the pitching coach for her alma mater, University of New Mexico, Moravian College, and Wilkes University.
A four-year letterwinner at the University of New Mexico, Thacker was arguably one of the best players in UNM history. She made her mark in the record books, ranking among the top 10 players in 16 single season categories and 23 career categories, in pitching, hitting and fielding. This included duplicate appearances in several single season categories. Thacker’s biggest accomplishment at UNM, was throwing a perfect game in 1999; the first for the program since 1978. Thacker was honored as Conference Player of the Week five times, Conference Pitcher of the Week five times, and was awarded First-Team All-Conference honors in 1997 and 2000.
After finishing her college playing career, Thacker was invited to play professionally in Forli, Italy. Forli made the Championship Tournament in Prague, Czech Republic where Thacker earned the honors of MVP and Best Hitter. Other International play included a trip to Canada, where she competed against the Chinese, Canadian, Australian, and US National teams in the Canadian Cup Tournament. Thacker also played in the Colorado Semi-Pro League for two years, at one point shutting out the National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) All-Stars.
Thacker graduated from UNM in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in University Studies. She resides in Martinsburg with her husband, Chad, their son, Garrett, and their daughter, Peyton.
