Get to Know a Graduate Assistant: Naomi Tellez

Photo courtesy of Concordia Athletics Department

by Jordan McCoy

Naomi Tellez is in her first year as the Concordia softball graduate assistant. Originally from San Diego, California, Tellez attended the University of New Mexico in 2012. In 2014, she transferred to DePaul University located in Chicago. She played softball her junior and senior year there and graduated in June 2016.

Tellez chose Concordia because the position offers an insight into all aspects of coaching. She feels that it is important to see what a head coach goes through on a daily basis. Whether it be administrative work or recruiting new players, Tellez is eager to learn about it all.

Tellez’s role on the team is working primarily with the pitchers and catchers. She also supervises weight lifting sessions and helps out wherever coach Todd LaVelle needs her. She feels that since she just recently graduated college and played at the collegiate level herself, she can act as a mentor to the players. Tellez’s main goal is to do whatever she can in order to help the team succeed not only on the field, but in the classroom as well.

“My favorite part of this team is how genuinely kind each player is. They welcomed me with open arms and have gone above and beyond to make sure that our program will be successful this season,” Tellez said. “Their work ethic is incredible, and it is part of the reason they have become such a tight knit group.”

Although it is only her first year, the players have already enjoyed having her on staff.

“Coach Tellez is awesome. We love having someone that can relate to us as student-athletes since she was a player herself just a few months ago,” senior Diana Mendoza said.

Since softball has always been a large part of her life, Tellez’s end goal is to become a head coach of her own program one day.