Auburn's Chris Malveaux 'honored' to assist USA Softball in '28 Olympics

AUBURN, Ala. – As Olympic fever spread during the 2026 Winter Games, Auburn co-head softball coach Chris Malveaux looked to the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028, when he will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team. 

“It’s such an honor,” said Malveaux, whose four-year stint in the USWNT coaching pool began last year. “You’re talking about pro athletes who are driven at the highest level. It’s such an honor to be around them and see them do their thing.”

As part of the coaching pool, Malveaux assists at WNT camps and international events under the leadership of head coach Patty Gasso, Malveaux’s SEC counterpart at Oklahoma.

Malveaux realized the magnitude of the role – what he calls his “whoa moment” – when he traveled with the USA Softball college all-stars to Japan for a three-game series of night games at minor league baseball stadiums.

“You start soaking it in,” he said. “It was nothing to see 10,000 to 20,000 people coming to watch softball,” he said. “They’re loud, very passionate.

“The sun’s going down, you see the lights. They start calling out the lineups, you’re standing on the line. The national anthem hits a little bit different at that point. I remember standing there and saying, ‘I can’t believe we’re here.’ It’s pretty cool.”

Softball returns to the Olympic program for the LA Games in 2028 after being absent in 2012, 2016 and 2024. The sport’s Olympic future remains in doubt after Los Angeles, which lobbied for it to be included because of local interest. 

“There’s still work to do,” Malveaux said. “Thank goodness to have it back in the Olympics this time around. It’s very big as it’s coming back around for softball fans to continue to be engaged with USA Softball, to follow and know what’s going on as we build that back up again.” 

Malveaux’s association with USA Softball benefits Auburn.

“Hopefully it will help get your name in some of those living rooms when it comes to recruiting time,” he said. “There are players we’re recruiting who have those kinds of dreams. USA Softball is always looking for ways to generate more prospects, to get their eyes on the next-level kids coming up so it’s a way to help out on both ends. Hopefully it brings a little bit of attention to a recruiter.”

While Chris Malvleaux and Auburn co-head coach Kate Malveaux try to take the Tigers back to the top of the SEC, beginning this weekend when Kentucky comes to Jane B. Moore Field for the conference opener, he also dreams of coaching future Olympians, from the Plains to the Games.

“It’s cool to see the highest level of softball and the highly driven athletes who are involved,” he said. “Just like anybody, they need the support of everyone. 

“Hopefully there are still a ton of players out there who have those dreams and aspirations of playing in the Olympics and putting on that USA jersey. It’s truly an honor on my end. I don’t get to be on the field, stand out there and play, but it’s so cool to watch those athletes get out there and represent.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer