Wow. Telasco would have been an excellent replacement he got the ladies to hit the crap out of the ball. As for a replacement Jolene Henderson comes to mind she was assistant coach at Florida State I believe.

dateline 6/23/2025 9:49 AM | By: Cal Athletics
https://calbears.com/news/2025/6/23/spencer-steps-down-as-california-softball-coach.aspx
> Assistant coach Jen Deering has been named interim head coach. A national search for a permanent replacement will begin immediately.

smh said:

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dateline 6/23/2025 9:49 AM | By: Cal Athletics
https://calbears.com/news/2025/6/23/spencer-steps-down-as-california-softball-coach.aspx
> Assistant coach Jen Deering has been named interim head coach. A national search for a permanent replacement will begin immediately.

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No reasons given....

Pretty pointless release...

I wanna know the stuff BearInOC (?) was hinting at before...

Didn't she just sign an extension a few months ago?? We could of tried to keep Telesco

Ccajon2 said:

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smh said:

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dateline 6/23/2025 9:49 AM | By: Cal Athletics
https://calbears.com/news/2025/6/23/spencer-steps-down-as-california-softball-coach.aspx
> Assistant coach Jen Deering has been named interim head coach. A national search for a permanent replacement will begin immediately.

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No reasons given....

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Yep. Just a quick thank you ma'ma! With all the transfers ..it looked like it was just a matter of time. They just hired 2 new assistants. Whats going to happen to them?

It appears that BearinOC, Shocky, myself & a few others were onto something with Chelsea Spencer. She couldn't keep the talent here nor the coaching staff. She was a terrible third base coach. Wow!

Even though the trajectory of the team in recent weeks suggested problems, this is a bit of a shock Can the bleeding be stopped? Eerily similar to football in that a program implosion follows on the heels of big facility upgrade. Weird!

Schroeder71 said:

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It appears that BearinOC, Shocky, myself & a few others were onto to something with Chelsea Spencer. She couldn't keep the talent here nor the coaching staff. She was a terrible third base coach. Wow!

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You guys called it. She must have been extremely hard to work with, and harbored a toxic work environment.

The good news is there's some outstanding coaches out there available including Cal alumna who played on that championship team and might be ready to step up to a head coaching position.

Heard some rumblings about issues with an assistant coach that was all but confirmed on their Instagram story a few weeks back. But wow, didn't think it would fully come to this!

Ccajon2 said:

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Schroeder71 said:

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It appears that BearinOC, Shocky, myself & a few others were onto to something with Chelsea Spencer. She couldn't keep the talent here nor the coaching staff. She was a terrible third base coach. Wow!

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You guys called it. She must have been extremely hard to work with, and harbored a toxic work environment.

The good news is there's some outstanding coaches out there available including Cal alumna who played on that championship team and might be ready to step up to a head coaching position.

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Some people have inside information which I respect but others..throw rocks!

I know it affects future classes, but does it allow the incoming freshmen class to open up recruitment again?

OBear073akaSMFan said:

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Ccajon2 said:

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Schroeder71 said:

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It appears that BearinOC, Shocky, myself & a few others were onto to something with Chelsea Spencer. She couldn't keep the talent here nor the coaching staff. She was a terrible third base coach. Wow!

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You guys called it. She must have been extremely hard to work with, and harbored a toxic work environment.

The good news is there's some outstanding coaches out there available including Cal alumna who played on that championship team and might be ready to step up to a head coaching position.

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Some people have inside information which I respect but others..throw rocks!

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I myself had no insight information as you can read in prior posts I thought it was a lack of Nil money that may have frustrated her. If you are accusing me of throwing rocks, for saying she harbored a toxic work environment that is only speculation on my part.

Well, this hire will be out of Knowlton's hands given he leaves next week. The co-AD's plus a committee will handle this, I'm guessing.

Nice perk to offer: New stadium on the way!

SFCALBear72 said:

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Well, this hire will be out of Knowlton's hands given he leaves next week. The co-AD's plus a committee will handle this, I'm guessing.

Nice perk to offer: New stadium on the way!

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...Regarding the new stadium, I can see the Seniors & possible some junior leaving because the new stadium not being available until 2026-27 season. They will basically be playing on the road for the entire 2025-26 season. Maybe they wanted some stability. Any idea where the team will be playing their games next season..Stanford?

Nope not accusing you (publically)!

Shocking. I haven't been reading the Boards at all. So I didn't see this coming. We can't seem to sustain any momentum, especially in women's sports. Drastic change is needed in Cal Athletics.

OBear073akaSMFan said:

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SFCALBear72 said:

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Well, this hire will be out of Knowlton's hands given he leaves next week. The co-AD's plus a committee will handle this, I'm guessing.
Either furds or a corner of CMS.

Nice perk to offer: New stadium on the way!

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...Regarding the new stadium, I can see the Seniors & possible some junior leaving because the new stadium not being available until 2026-27 season. They will basically be playing on the road for the entire 2025-26 season. Maybe they wanted some stability. Any idea where the team will be playing their games next season..Stanford?

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🐻 pic.twitter.com/TDfEx9IyKo

— Chelsea Spencer (@CoachSpencerCal) June 23, 2025

CalFanatic said:

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Heard some rumblings about issues with an assistant coach that was all but confirmed on their Instagram story a few weeks back. But wow, didn't think it would fully come to this!
Would they hire a male Coach Cal generally hires females for the Women's sports.

Painful we couldn't have kept Coach Telesco. We'd be in good shape.

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Would we hire a male coach for a woman's sport?

why not? plenty of male coaches in travel, HS and college

not sure when the SB transfer window is open, but I think a new 30 day window opens when the head coach leaves ... if that's the case I hope we can hold onto our players and recruits

Quote:

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The journey to London begins. Go Bears! Go USA! pic.twitter.com/pg1D4Y2T

— Jenny Simon-O'Neill (@BearsInLondon) July 17, 2012

bluehen, thx you for sharing this very IMPORTANT article & kudos to sf chronicle sports editor alex simon for writing the truth about the racist evil as **** jennifer simon-o'neil who is now somehow the interim co associate athletic director

"jenny" has FAILED the female student athletes in berkeley by not protecting them from harm's way, she presides over her empire of dirt with the vast majority of women's sports programs at the bottom of their conferences & has worked against the football & men's basketball teams for years


https://writeforcalifornia.com/p/uc-berkeley-investigating-cal-athletic-director

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softball update: head coach chelsea spencer is stepping down at this time, not gonna get into the ugly details but all parties need a reset from the toxic relationships with players, bearents & staff

the few remaining players that contributed this past season are now eligible to transfer during a special ncca 30 day portal window for head coaching changes...the roster has been almost 100% gutted

spencer is a loyal berkeley grad/former standout but lacks the interpersonal communication/relationship building skills to run a d1 softball program, her instability wuz perhaps reflected in her beyond bizarro land 3rd base coaching which ran the bears into 150+ base running outs each of the last 2 seasons

spencer wuz hired by jennifer simon-o'neil who is overseeing her empire of dirt, the overwhelming majority of cal women's teams are at the bottom of their conferences as they unsuccessfully ask berkeley grads for money to support these grossly mismanaged programs
______________________________________

right now multiple women's teams are poorly run ****shows:

women's basketball: failed to measurably increase attendance despite this past season's generational squad, has a head coach who is an introvert that cannot raise nil funds & the hiring of an unqualified marketing director in markeisha everrett

women's softball: multiple portal entrants today including the team's leading homerun hitter tianna bell, simon-o'neil has no ability to fundraise nil dollars with her unlikeable arrogant personality

women's gymnastics: head coaches leaving to clemson & roster retention under attack, once again no relationships in place to raise funds for the program

women's volleyball: 15-17 record last season & 7-13 in acc play

women's field hockey: 7-10 record last season & 1-6 in acc play

women's lacrosse: 6-10 record last season & 0-9 in acc play

women's track & field: tied for 12th place in the acc indoor championship last season

women's cross country: 15th place in the acc tournament last season

women's sand volleyball: there's no dedicated basketball practice facility in berkeley but o'neil is tryna get a new sand volleyball facility built for the maybe 100+ fans

women's soccer: allegations of bullying/coaching abuse brought by berkeley student athletes against neil mcguire

women's swimming: lawsuits from the families of former swimmers with suicidal iderations against the racist corrupt athletic department senior management until the end of time

jennifer simon-o'neil is EVIL as ****#

I don't know about Telesco. I feel someone in the higher ups has listened, bit the bullet, and is starting anew based on all the feedback. Someone must be stepping up with some money to offer up for an early retirement. This is looking like there could be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I am super optimistic. A new stadium, AD, HC coming soon.

^ disagree, telesco needs to be brought back from cal baptist (hc salary around $75k) to stabilize the current roster & cal commits plus he's one of the top hitting coaches in the nation

BearinOC said:

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I don't know about Telesco. I feel someone in the higher ups has listened, bit the bullet, and is starting anew based on all the feedback. Someone must be stepping up with some money to offer up for an early retirement. This is looking like there could be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I am super optimistic. A new stadium, AD, HC coming soon.

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The stadium should be a nice draw for a new HC. Have to imagine it opens up a larger pool of possibilities.

Have to keep the entire freshman class together (if possible). That's your pot of gold to rebuild. Can't lose McGowan, NPJ, etc

What about Courtney Scott. Cal 2000-2003. HC Arkansas 359-179. Salary $350,000. One of the most successful from the Ninemire coaching tree.

Likely no chance she even applies for the job. Probably have to pay her at least double what she's getting back in AR. Why would she leave a team that just played in a super regional to come to the dumpster fire of Cal?

N now with Brandon telasco, cal would be stepping on the Cal Baptists ads toes a bit, but the salary difference would be huge. Maybe we can offer to play a three-game series at their place as compensation LOL.

Ccajon2 said:

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N now with Brandon telasco, cal would be stepping on the Cal Baptists ads toes a bit, but the salary difference would be huge. Maybe we can offer to play a three-game series at their place as compensation LOL.

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Better chance if we sponsor Texas or Oklahoma for them to play Cal Baptist in a series.

How about Haley Woods as a head/ hitting coach. She still local & has link to many southbay players.

Haley Woods

About Cal Nuggets | Cal Nuggets Softball

Ccajon2 said:

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What about Courtney Scott. Cal 2000-2003. HC Arkansas 359-179. Salary $350,000. One of the most successful from the Ninemire coaching tree.

Likely no chance she even applies for the job. Probably have to pay her at least double what she's getting back in AR. Why would she leave a team that just played in a super regional to come to the dumpster fire of Cal?

N now with Brandon telasco, cal would be stepping on the Cal Baptists ads toes a bit, but the salary difference would be huge. Maybe we can offer to play a three-game series at their place as compensation LOL.

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If you are thinking Courtney Deifel would even consider taking the CAL job, as much as that would be a great hire, I don't think there is a chance in hell that will happen. There is just too much baggage involved. From the chaos within CAL's administration to issues like cost of living, political differences (kneeling in Louisiana), and family and cultural conflicts. Remember she is in Arkansas which is no different than Louisiana as they are in the Bible Belt.

We can only hope for a mid-major university that is liberal-leaning, young, vibrant, and drama-free coach; the list goes on.

When I spoke to one of my contacts this morning in the softbal world, she hosted a podcast with guest speakers and the topic? I've not heard it but it was related to the mess surrounding Coach Spenser's resignation. I was absolutely embarrassed and appalled by the fact that even she knew about it and aired the dirty laundry during the show. I mean, she had zero contact with the program.

what's the podcast? You can message(dm) it to me also.

kc1121 said:

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what's the podcast? You can message(dm) it to me also.

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I never listened to her podcasts so i dont know. I guess she was still fired up from the posdcast as she woke me up this moring at 6 AM (she is in Colorado getting ready for the Sparklers Tournament) She lives in a different time zone and knows what happened. Thats a problem since softball is such a small community.

BearinOC-can you send me a PM that'll explain why the softball program fell apart. I would appreciate it.

Former Benicia kid and National Champion. If she wants to come back home…

https://nusports.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/michelle-gascoigne/2510

I'm really puzzled by all of this.

How do we lose a former Cal player AND coach under circumstances like this?

For all the smarts that come out of "Berkeley", Cal can't find a way to make an athletic program stable and successful?

I will say this (and this might be a subject for another thread).......how much can Cal say they really care about the softball athletes and put in a plastic field in a new stadium? This is like building a new athletic training center and feeding the athletes McDonalds. Another symptom of poor thinking from the A.D.