Tallahassee Softball Camps
Coaching Staff

Craig Snider
Assistant Coach

Florida State softball assistant coach Craig Snider completed a successful first season as a member of the Garnet and Gold coaching staff in 2012.

Arriving in the summer 2011, Snider helped foster a winning attitude and developed tremendous camaraderie with student-athletes and recruits immediately. He worked actively to improve the individual performances of several student-athletes in the 2012 season, helping players such as Briana Hamilton, Tiffani Brown, Kirstin Austin and others record banner years. Hamilton and Brown earned selections to the All-ACC First Team for the first time in their careers, while Austin's noticeable improvement at the plate gave the Seminoles an enormous spark throughout the year.

In 2012, Snider's daily teachings helped the team establish a strong sense of plate discipline. FSU's 230 walks were vital toward manufacturing runs, with it being the team's highest total since 2004. Throughout the season, the Seminole offense proved to be a clutch-hitting bunch that could come through in late-game situations. It was also a fundamentally-sound group that improved greatly in situational hitting, contributing to its 47-16 overall record this past season.

Moreover, Snider's first season at FSU was an enjoyable one for everyone associated with the program. He has proven in just a short period of time how easily he relates with student-athletes while working with them day-to-day, and is someone who is sure to develop positive and meaningful relationships with future Seminoles on the recruiting trail. As someone who possesses an innovative mindset, Snider will continue to help FSU student-athletes at the plate through his analytical work in the video room, batting cages and on the field.

The Franklin, Ky. native has built a reputation for being a difference maker everywhere he has been, which includes Stephen F. Austin, Oklahoma, Centenary and Lindsey Wilson College. Over the last decade, Snider has propelled each of his teams toward tremendous improvement at the plate, and looks to continue his history of success as FSU's hitting coach.

In his most recent stint at Stephen F. Austin as an assistant coach, Snider helped turn the Southland Conference program around right away. He took over as hitting coach in 2007 following a season in which the Ladyjacks finished with a .229 batting average. Over the next three seasons, SFA batted .274 (2008), .275 (2009) and .278 (2010). He also led the team to sharp spikes in home runs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as SFA recorded 43 round-trippers in Snider's first season after hitting just 16 the season before.

At Stephen F. Austin, Snider took on several roles in guiding the program toward its recent success. He devised hitting and defensive workouts during the fall, directed all aspects of camps, developed team-building exercises, served as a fundraising arm, handled much of the recruiting and recruiting databases and oversaw his student-athlete's academic progress.

"I'm extremely impressed with Craig's character," FSU head coach Lonni Alameda said. "He is a genuine person who works hard and loves the game. He has been a part of bigger programs as well as mid majors and I believe that makes him a tremendous coach as you have to be very creative in your coaching as you relate to different styles of athletes. Craig also brings a wealth of recruiting connections. He is very good with people and respected by many and he will now embrace those relationships as a Seminole."

Snider, who has been involved as a coach in softball since 2001, previously assisted in producing three All-Americans at Oklahoma from 2005-06, and played a large role in creating scouting reports as a graduate assistant coach for the Sooners. At his alma mater of Centenary, he helped lead the school to two Mid-Con Tournament championships while providing analysis for recruiting, hitting, fielding and putting together chart systems. His versatility also included field maintenance and even putting together the team's highlight videos in 2004 and 2005.

At Lindsey Wilson College from 2001-03, Snider guided the team to batting averages above .300 every season. He was heavily involved in the recruiting process as an assistant coach and oversaw all summer camps.

"I'm thrilled to help coach at such an established program that is coming off another conference championship and has great things going for it," Snider added. "FSU's history of softball success was such a motivating factor for me to come here, and I have no doubt that through the hard work of this current coaching staff and our student-athletes, we can take this program to the next level."

Snider is married to his wife, Lauren, who is a native of Bellville, Texas. The two have one daughter, Riley (1).

Travis Wilson
Assistant Coach

Assistant Florida State softball coach Travis Wilson finished his first season with the Seminoles, helping the club toward another outstanding year.

Joining fellow assistant coach Craig Snider as the team's offensive instructors, Wilson helped the Seminoles make strides at the plate in the 2012 year. Coaching a youthful unit that included just one everyday senior starter, Wilson also made a great impact on the team's defensive game as it became a sound group in the field.

In 2012, the Seminoles finished the year with a .966 fielding percentage to rank in the upper echelon on a national scale. FSU became an entertaining group to watch defensively as student-athletes such as third baseman Briana Hamilton, shortstop Maddie O'Brien, second baseman Tiffani Brown and centerfielder Courtney Senas made a bevy of highlight-reel plays throughout the season. A fundamentally-sound group of infielders and outfielders collectively produced both the routine and difficult plays last year.

It was the solid play of FSU's defensive stalwarts that helped the Seminoles begin last season with a 16-0 record, the second-best start in school history. The 16-game win streak ties for the 10th longest winning stretch for the program.

Wilson is seen as an excellent instructional mind by FSU's student-athletes, which was evident from the first day of practice in the fall 2011. He is a reliable arm for batting practice who is always offering excellent teaching points to better enlighten each player. Wilson has proven to be an absolute student of the game who utilizes various statistics in his meticulous game-day preparation.

Wilson is a native of New Zealand who has already taken on an important role in recruiting. The baseball, softball and cricket veteran serves as the Seminoles' hitting and fielding coach, using his past success as a player to better serve his student-athletes.

"Travis is from both professional baseball and the New Zealand National Program," head coach Lonni Alameda said when Wilson first arrived in the summer 2011. "From the first time I met Travis I knew he would be a great fit for our program. It is not often you come across someone that has played the same game that the girls do and yet has 10 years of Major League Baseball experience. He is personable and he has won at the highest level of this game from the men's side. He has played every position you can on the field and has been among some of the world's best in men's fastpitch. I believe Travis will be able to relate to the players on a unique level as he stills plays the game. He is excited about this opportunity and can help our program get to the next level."

From 1996-2004, Wilson played seven seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization covering all stops from Rookie Ball to Triple-A. He enjoyed much success in his professional stint, being named an All-Star for the Appalachian League (1998), South Atlantic League (1999) and the Carolina League (2000). He was named Carolina League Player of the Year for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and led the Grapefruit League in hitting for the Braves during spring training in 2001.

Wilson ended his professional career in 2004 with the Cincinnati Reds' organization in Chattanooga, Tenn. As a softball player in New Zealand for the Black Sox, he made his debut as a 16-year old in 1994 and was named both the New Zealand Softballer of the Year and the Canterbury Softballer of the Year after posting a team-best .396 batting average in 1996. He would earn the Canterbury Player of the Year honor multiple times and become one of his country's biggest softball ambassadors. He continues to play today.

Wilson's most recent baseball stint was as an instructor for the Idaho Falls, a Rookie League team of the Kansas City Royals. His tasks included scouting the Pioneer League, writing reports and utilizing video while communicating with the Royals organization on several prospects. His efforts have helped the Royals claim their status of having the best farm system in Major League Baseball, as asserted by several minor-league publications. On the field, he helped his players develop their infield/outfield skills, base running and hitting mechanics. Wilson also served as expert commentator for the ISF Men's World Softball Series, and was fielding coach and video analyst for the Black Caps of the New Zealand Cricket Association.

Wilson is married to his wife, Jill. The two have a son named Tyler.