Natasha Watley Foundation Scholarship Fund In Memory Of Geri Ann Glasco
Natasha Watley Foundation Scholarship Fund In Memory Of Geri Ann Glasco
Natasha Watley Foundation scholarship fund created for coaches in memory of Geri Ann Glasco.
Like nearly everyone in the softball community, Natasha Watley wanted to immediately reach out to Gerry Glasco as soon as she saw the news.
Geri Ann Glasco, 24, was killed in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 in Louisiana last Thursday morning.
She was two weeks away from opening day of her first season working as an assistant coach for her father, Gerry, at Louisiana-Lafayette.
Watley played for Gerry for one season as a member of the USSSA Pride in National Pro Fastpitch and met Geri Ann at batting practice in the summer.
Watley held off contacting Gerry on the day of Geri Ann’s death, figuring he was inundated with messages and needed time to process his grief.
But as she was getting out of bed early the next morning, Watley’s cell phone rang. Gerry’s name popped up on the screen. Watley rushed to answer.
The Glasco family wanted to do something to honor Geri Ann’s memory and leave a lasting legacy in the sport. Gerry asked Watley if her foundation could help.
The Natasha Watley Foundation (NWF) was founded by the two-time Olympic medalist to create opportunities for girls in under-served communities to learn to the play softball. NWF uses the sport to inspire young women to reach their full potential while fostering character development and awareness of social issues that affect women.
“I was really touched Gerry thought of my foundation to help make this happen,” Watley said. “Geri Ann’s passion was coaching softball and helping the development of the sport. Instead of having people donate flowers, he said they would love for people to send money to the foundation.”
Geri Ann was the 2012 Gatorade National Player of the Year at Oconee County High in Georgia. She played her first two collegiate seasons at Georgia before transferring to Oregon for her final two seasons.
After spending one season in the NPF, Geri Ann followed her father into the coaching profession. She was a student assistant coach at Oregon in 2017, and an assistant coach at Oregon’s Mt. Hood Community College during the 2018 season. She was ready to coach alongside her father at Louisiana-Lafayette before tragedy struck.
One Watley spoke with Gerry about starting the Glasco Family Fund, she reached out to Sue Enquist to brainstorm ideas. Enquist coached Watley at UCLA and is on the board of her foundation.
“We wanted to take it up a notch as opposed to people just donating. Sue said since Geri Ann was a young coach we should create a fund that supports other young coaches that are trying to get into the profession,” Watley said. “We wanted it to be for coaches who are less three years removed from college and give them help getting started.”
The foundation plans to establish other criteria in the coming months and may contact the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) to help identify candidates.
The Glasco family will remain involved every step of the way, and provide input on selecting aspiring coaches.
“Gerry was literally at the funeral home and burial site talking to me on the cell phone to make sure all these arrangements were in place,” Watley said. “It was one of the hardest conversations I’ve had after all he was going through, but it was more about him paying it forward for his daughter. I already loved him as a human being, but I think that just speaks volumes about him and his family.”
The scholarship fund dovetails perfectly with the growth of Watley’s foundation and the Natasha Watley Softball League in Los Angeles.
Established in 2008 in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks, the league consists of young girls of mainly African American and Latino backgrounds participating in summer and fall games.
Watley recruits college players to serve as coaches and has recently increased the professional development side for them. The foundation brings in veteran coaches to offer advice and provides entrepreneurial lessons in case they eventually coach travel ball or run their own facilities.
“Our goal is to push more young ladies to stay in the game and continue coaching just like Geri Ann was doing,” Watley said. “She was trying to make a difference and giving back to the sport, and that is what we hope our coaches can do.”
As news of Geri Ann’s death began spreading last week, tributes poured in from across the country. The Glasco's are one of the most well-known families in softball and have touched many lives for the better at all levels of the sport.
By providing a home for The Glasco Family Fund, Watley hopes Geri Ann’s legacy can live on for many generations in softball to come.
“I feel a huge responsibility to make sure this is done right,” Watley said. “I want to make them proud because this is his daughter and this is their family.”