Chris Malveaux enters his third season on the Mizzou Softball coaching staff in 2021. Head coach Larissa Anderson promoted Malveaux to Associate Head Coach in July 2019, following his instant impact to the program and contributions to the Tigers' success on the field.
“I’m extremely honored and appreciative to Coach Anderson and Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk for this tremendous opportunity,” Malveaux said following his initial hire in June 2018. “I’m so excited to join the Mizzou Softball program and to build onto the tradition that already exists. I’m honored to work for Larissa, who’s done some great things already at a very high level. I have a lot of respect for who she is and what she stands for. I can’t wait to get on the field and go to battle with this fantastic group!”
“Chris is one of the most respected hitting coaches in the country and I’m beyond thrilled to have him join our staff at Mizzou,” Coach Anderson said. “Not only does he bring a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience in coaching and player development, but he also has key recruiting ties and relationships across the country.”
Heralded for his work with hitters, Malveaux' approach at the plate has played dividends for the Tiger program. In his first season with the program, Kimberly Wert hit 19 home runs – the second-most by a Tiger in a single season. Sophomore Hatti Moore saw her hit total rise by 35 compared to her freshman season, while also seeing improvements in home runs (10 vs. 1), doubles (7 vs. 2) and RBI (41 vs. 10).
Brooke Wilmes was named to the All-SEC first team, as well as NFCA Second Team All-Southeast Region, in her first year under Malveaux, while then freshman Jazymn Rollin was a Top 25 finalist for the NFCA/Schutt Sports Freshman of the Year.
Despite the 2020 season being canceled after 26 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Malveaux’s hitters again excelled at the plate. Cayla Kessinger returned from injury to be named to Softball America’s All-America team, while Mizzou’s 32 home runs ranked 15th nationally.
Malveaux spent the 2018 season at the University of Kansas as the program’s video coordinator. Prior to joining the Tigers, he brought a combined 17 years of experience as an assistant and head coach at the NCAA Division I level.
Widely regarded as one of the top hitting instructors in the country, Malveaux oversaw all video capturing and analysis with the Jayhawks in 2018. Prior to his tenure with Kansas, Malveaux served as the associate head coach at Louisiana from 2016-17. It marked his second stint with the Ragin’ Cajuns, as he was also an assistant coach from 2009-11.
The 2010 Louisiana staff was selected as the NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year after compiling a 45-18 record, NCAA Super Regional appearance and No. 16 national ranking. In his five combined seasons at Louisiana, Malveaux was a member of five Sun Belt Conference and Tournament Championships, five NCAA Regionals and two NCAA Super Regional bids.
Malveaux also served as an assistant coach at Bradley from 2012-15, head coach at McNeese State from 2005-08 and an assistant coach at McNeese from 2002-04. In 2014, he helped guide Bradley to its second all-time Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship. As a member of the Braves’ coaching staff, the team tallied nine All-MVC accolades and three NFCA All-Mideast Region award winners.
In his first season at the helm of McNeese State, Malveaux led the Cowgirls to the 2005 Southland Conference Tournament Championship and an NCAA Regional appearance. It stands as only one of five all-time SLC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in the 29-year history of McNeese State Softball. Over seven combined years as an assistant and head coach at McNeese, Malveaux oversaw 34 All-Southland Conference recipients.
Malveaux is a Houston, Texas, native and a 2001 graduate from Texas A&M University. In 2014 he married former Bradley Softball standout Katie Singler, whom currently serves as Mizzou’s Director of Operations.
