TAMPA, FLA. January 30, 2022 – Ronnie Gajownik’s father was a local celebrity. Gajownik, the former USF softball player, remembers constantly being referred to as “the weatherman’s daughter’’ because her father, Glenn Richards, was a popular chief meteorologist with Orlando’s ABC-TV affiliate.
One day, in mock disgust, Gajownik confronted her father.
“I said, ‘You know what, Dad? I’m tired of this. I’m tired of just being known as your daughter. One day, people are going to know you as my dad,’ ‘’ Gajownik said with a laugh.
“I guess I sort of spoke that into existence. I guess I had the fuel to chase my biggest dreams.’’
Gajownik, 29, recently made history when she was hired as manager of the Hillsboro Hops, the High-Class A farm club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gajownik is the second woman hired as manager of an MLB-affiliated team and she’s at a slightly more advanced level than Rachel Balkovec of the Low-Class A Tampa Tarpons.
What does Gajownik’s father think now?
“I’m so proud of her and thrilled for her,’’ Richards said. “She is such a humble hard worker. She is definitely a pioneer. But she loves the game of baseball so much and she has earned this opportunity. Of course, there’s going to be attention on her, but I know her priority will be shaping her team and preparing it to play, just like a male coach would do.
“She won’t be intimidated by this. She’s going to work her butt off and she’s going to succeed.’’
USF softball coach Ken Eriksen, who coached Gajownik as a Bulls infielder from 2014-15, said he’s also bursting with pride.
“There was a time when I hoped Ronnie would come back and coach with us (at USF softball), but I’d say she’s paving the way for many more (females) right now,’’ Eriksen said. “We knew we had a tremendous person join our program in 2014. Right away, she was a proven leader and a student of the game.
“Ronnie could play anywhere — and she would, if asked. She was constantly asking relevant questions about the game and continued to differentiate what the differences were between baseball and softball. She has a great mind for the game and she works hard. You knew back then she would have a great future in coaching.’’
Gajownik, who batted .322 as a USF junior, was an assistant softball coach at Liberty University and the University of Massachusetts. She got her first baseball opportunity as a player development intern with the Diamondbacks in 2021.
From there, Gajownik became a video assistant at Hillsboro, a coach with the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles and a coach with the Arizona Fall League’s Salt River Rafters.
A few months back, Diamondbacks director of player development Josh Barfield unexpectedly contacted Gajownik and her initial thought was, “Oh no, am I in trouble?’’ Definitely not. Barfield offered the Hillsboro managing job to Gajownik.
At first, she was shocked and speechless. When Gajownik told her wife, she began to cry. It was kept under wraps until mid-January, but Gajownik told her parents and they, too, were emotional.
According to Gajownik, the foundation of her success was built with Eriksen’s Bulls. She first signed with Jacksonville University, then transferred to Indian River State College before arriving at USF, mostly because she wanted to play for Eriksen.
“Passionate people tend to gravitate to other passionate people and Ken was passionate about coaching softball and empowering women,’’ Gajownik said. “I definitely learned how to play the right way. But even more, I learned how to carry myself as a coach and how I wanted my players to perceive me.
“USF gave me such amazing opportunities. I definitely bleed green and gold. I’m super proud to be a USF alum and I always want to bring a good light to the university. It gave me so much and I want to give back. It put me in a position to have an opportunity like this.’’
Gajownik grew up playing baseball with the guys at Oviedo Little League. Eventually, she realized the female scholarship opportunities were in softball, so she shifted sports.
“I do remember looking back at the baseball fields and crying because I missed my old teammates,’’ Gajownik said.
But Gajownik also knew there were still baseball possibilities. She absorbed an ESPN feature on Missouri softball’s Jenna Marston, who also played for Team USA baseball and won a gold medal in the Pan American Games. Gajownik kept playing baseball when she could and after her USF career, she too competed for Team USA and won Pan-Am gold.
In her mind, Gajownik always thought there could be professional baseball coaching opportunities. But realistically, there were no role models. While attending spring-training games with her father, Gajownik said she would’ve had a different mentality if she ever saw a woman in the MLB dugout.
As Balkovec and others broke barriers, as Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng and others established a female presence in MLB front offices, Gajownik’s optimism began to grow.
“Whether someone is a female or a male, other people can see through fakeness and they can spot the people who are passionate because you can see their eyes light up when they talk about the game,’’ Gajownik said. “There will always be skeptics and close-minded people. But the bottom line is if you can do the job, you can do the job. In my case, I have the skill-set to manage a team, the same way a man can manage a team.
“I’m getting a lot of attention for this and I guess I understand that. It’s a story that people are interested in and we’re part of the entertainment industry, so the attention will come. But the reality is I’m just one of the dudes here who knows their stuff. I wasn’t just randomly plucked out of the world and put here. People can say, ‘Look at her resume. She has a gold medal in baseball. She grew up playing softball and baseball. She deserves to be here.’ For people who don’t think females as deserving to be here, I just feel sorry they have to live that way.’’
Gajownik said she struggles to describe her managing style, but knows she will emphasize building great relationships and treating her players fairly.
“People want to know that they’re thought of, valued and loved,’’ Gajownik said. “You have to communicate. You have to speak the truth. They want to know you’re there for them and grinding just like them. As long as they know you’re here to help them get better, that’s what everyone wants.’’
One day, Gajownik said she firmly believes there will be a female manager in MLB.
Maybe she can be that woman.
“I know she will do honor to the game of baseball, her family and friends and to USF,’’ Gajownik’s father said. “Her mother (Marcel) and I always told her that people are basically the same, all deserving of respect and opportunities.
“I’m a long-time baseball buff and I love to see the game taught and played the right way. She’s going to do that. I’m her father and of course I’m biased, but I think she’s the right person for this role. She got there by her hard work and she’ll be judged by her performance, not her gender. I couldn’t be prouder of her.’’
About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
