It would be easy to say that NIU’s new softball coach Lindsay Chouinard isn’t the most experienced. After all, she graduated from DePaul in 2003. However, in that time the former pitcher has served as assistant coach at DePaul, where she holds numerous pitching records. She was also the second overall pick for the National Pro Fastpitch Softball League where she played for the Texas Thunder and the was an all-star in 2005 for the Chicago Bandits.

All that aside, she took some time out of her schedule to talk with the Northern Star about age, her Fresno roots and saltwater fish.

Northern Star: What do you think the advantages are of being a younger coach like yourself?

Lindsay Chouinard: I’m fresh out of the game and know everything new that’s going on. I’ve played with a lot of these people and coached with them and I’ve played at the highest level professionally. I think I’m well aware of the game and where it’s at right now and how to make people better.

NS: Think you could get away with putting yourself in a game to pitch a few innings?

LC: I think people would notice. I’m a little older looking now I must say. They call it ‘mature,’ I think.

NS: What is your favorite softball memory in all your years of playing?

LC: Beating UCLA in college. They were number one at the time and I think they were on a 25-game winning streak and we beat them in Fresno in front of my hometown crowd.

NS: How about the strangest thing you’ve seen on the diamond?

LC: When I was coaching a couple years ago at DePaul, we were playing in Florida and a big bird dropped a huge fish from the ocean into center field and our center fielder went over and picked it up and had to throw it off the field. The fish was probably a foot and a half long. One of our outfielders wanted to put it in her bag and take it home as a souvenir and we said absolutely not.

NS: Being from Fresno, have you ever spent much time in DeKalb before now?

LC: I had some friends that went to Northern Illinois and I visited them a few times. I’ve maybe spent five or six days total in my entire life in DeKalb before I got this job.

NS: So now that you’re here, what do you think?

LC: There’s a lot of corn and I’m really afraid of the field mice in the winter because I’ve been warned about that.

NS: What are some random facts about you people might not know?

LC: I was a cheerleader in high school. My softball coach always wanted me to quit but I wouldn’t dare. I’m also the only person in my entire family that does not live in Fresno. Anyone related to me lives in Fresno.

NS: How did you end up here?

LC: I was the only one that was brave enough to venture out and try I guess. I’m really grateful though for all the opportunities that I’ve had and the position I’m in right now.