As good friends and co-workers in the math department, the coaching combination of Emma Jarrell and Doug Schultz has added up to success for the Riverside Brookfield High School varsity girls softball program.
The equation will change only slightly next season.
Jarrell, the previous assistant coach, has become head coach, and Schultz becomes her assistant after 11 seasons as head coach. Jarrell’s new position was officially approved at the District 208 School Board meeting July 9.
“We’ve kind of joked that we’re going to switch first and third [base coaching duties]. We’ll keep a lot of stuff the same,” Jarrell said.
“When I played in high school, I loved high school softball. I want to give that experience to the kids at R-B, to have a fun and good high-school experience and want to be there.”
Jarrell was a starting senior shortstop for Sandburg’s Class 4A state championship softball team in 2010 and played at Western Illinois. She was hired by RBHS upon graduation in 2015 and after one year as the freshman coach has been Schultz’s varsity assistant.
In their other coaching roles for the Bulldogs, Schultz will remain as the varsity girls golf head coach, and Jarrell as the varsity girls basketball assistant for head coach Jordan Mack.
“I hit the jackpot when it comes down to an assistant coach for the last eight years, having someone who is so well versed. I think it’s been a great collaboration where I can bring some coaching experience to the group, but Emma brings the technical, specific softball experience to the group,” Schultz said.
“I think it’s definitely time for me to step back and have a female lead this team so our players can see a female role in that position.”
The Bulldogs finished 21-11 this past season, 19-9 in 2023 and won a Class 4A regional in 2022.
Schultz, the Bulldogs’ head coach since 2014, was head softball coach at Hillcrest in 1998 and an assistant at Sandburg from 1999-2002. Upon coming to RBHS, he returned to coaching as his children grew, first in football and also basketball.
Schultz also previously served as the RBHS math department chairperson for 10 years and played a role in Jarrell’s arrival.
“We respect each other and are friends, too,” Jarrell said.
“We have math brains, so I feel like we work well together. We know each other well so we know how to go about things together and we kind of pair well with the kids, too. I feel like we have a little bit of different approaches but both of them mix together well to try and get the best results from the kids.”
Schultz was playing golf with a friend from his high school days and the friend’s older brother, whose daughter was friends with Jarrell and knew she was looking for a math teaching job.
“It was kind of a fate thing. It wasn’t a done deal, but she did well in the interview, and it’s been great ever since,” Schultz said. “I think our relationship means a lot. We work well together.”
Jarrell will continue to have another familiar face on the coaching staff. Paul Jarrell, her father, is a volunteer assistant who calls pitches and works with the pitchers and catchers. Paul previously coached traveling softball for the Orland Park Sparks, where Emma also coached from 2010-17.
Jarrell said she does hope to begin adding team road trips, perhaps during spring break, to promote team bonding.
Like many current Bulldogs, Jarrell also can relate to the challenges of a multi-sport athlete. Jarrell also played basketball and ran cross country at Sandburg.
“That’s huge for athletes to see that role model of somebody that coaches multiple sports but also played multiple sports,” Schultz said.
“Our goal is always to give the girls the varsity experience they deserve. I’m really proud we’ve been able to do that. Hopefully we’ll continue to give them that experience, that opportunity to grow as players during their high school seasons and want to come back.”