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 Rick Church enters his eighth season as head coach of the Blinn College
softball team. During his tenure as head coach, Church has led the program
to seven consecutive Region XIV Tournament appearances, finishing runners-up
in 2000, 2001, 2005 and capturing the conference and regional championship
in the 2003 and 2006 seasons. The Bucs have won the South Zone conference
championship the past four seasons. The team finished with a 40-22 record in
2006 winning the South Zone Conference, the Region XIV Championship and a
trip to the NJCAA National Championship. The Bucs finished the 2003 season
as NJCAA National Runners-Up with a 53-11 record. Church now holds the most
all time victories at Blinn College with a 298 wins. His overall college
coaching record stands at 372-161-2 (.697). 2003 season honors included
Speedline/NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year, Mid-West Coaching Staff
of the Year, Region XIV Coach of the Year, and Easton Victory Club "200
Wins" awards. Church was awarded the Mid-West Region Coaching Staff of the
Year honors again in 2004. In 2005 the Easton Victory Club awarded Church
for gaining his 300th victory.
Before arriving at Blinn College, Church served as co-founder, owner, and
head instructor for the Can-Am Baseball/Softball Academy in Langley, British
Columbia from 1992-1997. While in Canada he was also the coach of the White
Rock Renegades women's fast pitch team. The Renegades won back to back
Canadian championships in 1993 and 1994. His overall record with the
Renegades was 179-46 (.790). He had the privilege of training eight current
or former Canadian National Team players. He joined the Can-Am Academy
Houston operation as a consultant from 1997-1999.
Prior to his Can-Am years Church served as the head softball coach and
professor of physical education at Arizona Western College from 1990-1992.
His record at AWC was AWC finished Region I runners-up in 1991 and third in
1992. Church served as an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska from
1986-1989. During that time the Huskers made two College World Series
appearances finishing third and fifth respectively in 1987 and 1988.
Church has earned doctoral hours from Texas A&M University, a master's
degree in Kinesiology from Sam Houston State University (1984), and his
bachelor's degree from Kearney State College (1982) where he played college
baseball as an infielder.
He is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS).
During his coaching tenure he has traveled with teams to Taiwan, Australia
and Holland. In the summer of 2001 his team finished third in an
international tournament in Holland. He has also been a speaker, presenter,
or clinician at over 200 camps and clinics. In 2006 Church was selected to
join the Canadian National Team coaching pool.
In the summer of 2006 he was a coach for the Elite team and was elevated to
the Olympic team staff in December of 2006.
Church receives support and encouragement from his family. His wife Rocio is
a kindergarten teacher in the public school system and a fitness instructor.
They have two children: Jordi (1992) and Demi (1994).
 Jami
Ingram Jami Ingram is in her second year as the assistant coach for Blinn College
Softball. Coach Ingram was born and raised in Richmond, B.C. Canada before
making her way to Texas.
She spent two years coaching softball at Texas Woman's University where she
was the graduate assistant coach during the 2005 season while working on and
completing her master's degree. She was a volunteer assistant coach during
the 2004 season while completing her bachelor's degree.
She started her softball career playing for head coach Rick Church at Blinn
College during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, starting both seasons for the
Buccaneers and earning All-Region XIV honors as a freshman and sophomore.
She was also a member of the academic honor roll all four semesters and was
tabbed a President's Scholar in the Spring of 2000.
She transferred to Texas Woman's University for her junior and senior years
where she continued her softball career. She started both seasons for the
Pioneers and earned various accolades. During her junior year, she was
awarded second team all-conference for the Lone Star Conference, first team
all-region, and third a team all-American as a designated hitter. She was
also an Academic All-American for the 2002 season. During her senior year,
she was awarded first team all-conference, first team all-region and first
team all-American as a catcher. She was also named the 2003 NFCA Diamond
Sports Catcher of the Year in Division II Softball. Coach Ingram set and
still holds the home-run record for a season (14) and a career (18) at TWU.
Coach Ingram holds an associate degree in kinesiology from Blinn (2001), a
bachelor's degree in kinesiology, teaching from Texas Woman's University
(2003), and a master's degree in kinesiology, sports administration from TWU
(2005).
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