CONWAY, S.C. — For most student-athletes, the end of their playing career means turning the page and starting something new. But for three former Coastal Carolina softball players, the story didn't end when their cleats came off. Instead, Amanda Daneker, Kassidy Smith, and Kiana Quolas all found their way back to the place that shaped them, this time as coaches.

For Daneker, the best part of her time as a player wasn't just the wins; it was the people around her.

"My favorite memory from playing at Coastal was the relationships I built," she said. Whether it was a tough practice or a long road trip, her teammates made everything fun. One memory still stands out: the team's spring break trip to Hawaii. "That week was unforgettable."

Even though she loved her experience at Coastal, Daneker didn't necessarily expect to come back. She planned on going home and working in accounting. But during her redshirt junior year, while she was injured, she helped Coach Green work with the catchers, and something clicked.

"That's when I realized I wanted to coach," she said.

After she graduated, she asked to stay on as a volunteer. "Coach Green's basically been stuck with me ever since," she joked.

Now, being back as a coach means a lot more to her than she expected.

"I know exactly what it feels like to wear 'Coastal' across your chest," she said. "Being able to help our players experience that same pride is really special."

More than anything, she hopes each player leaves the program feeling supported, challenged, and confident.

Smith's path back to Coastal had its own twists. Her favorite memory as a player was the team's run in the 2019 Sun Belt Tournament, when the Chanticleers made it all the way to the championship game as a No. 6 seed. Even though they fell just short, it's a week she'll never forget.

After graduation, Smith thought she was moving away from softball. She skipped her fifth year of eligibility to work in urgent care and gain hours for PA school. But even while working in the medical field, she found herself coaching travel ball, high school, and middle school teams.

Eventually, she had to choose between medicine and coaching, and she chose coaching. When a volunteer spot opened at Coastal in 2022, she came back immediately.

"Coming back means everything," Smith said. "This place has become my home."

She hopes players leave the program not just stronger athletes, but stronger people as well.

"I want them to feel like they always have a second home here," she said.

Rounding out the alumni trio is Quolas, whose coaching journey took her across the country before bringing her back to Conway. While she didn't always know exactly what her career would look like after graduating, she knew one thing: softball would always be part of her life.

"Softball has given me so much and has shaped me as a player and as a woman," Quolas said. "I didn't know what I was going to do after playing in college, but I knew I was going to be around the game in some aspect, whether coaching or giving lessons. I love the game too much to let it go."

Quolas spent time coaching at East Carolina, George Washington, George Mason, and Youngstown State, gaining experience and learning under a variety of head coaches and administrators. Though those stops allowed her to grow professionally and see new places, Coastal was always in the back of her mind.

"I have always kept an eye out for an opening at Coastal," Quolas said. "I enjoyed my time at my previous institutions and learned a lot from each of them, but Coastal is home."

Now coaching at her alma mater, Quolas passes along the same mindset that guided her as a player.

"I usually tell them to play free and trust your training," she said. "We work hard, so when game time comes, we just play. Don't worry about the outcomes, the stats, or the fans. Focus on one pitch and take care of the ball."

For Daneker, Smith, and Quolas, Coastal isn't just a place they played; it's a place that shaped who they are. Now, as coaches, they're helping shape the next generation of Chanticleers the same way the program once shaped them.

For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media @CoastalSoftball (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers.