From The Heart: A New Era of Bonnies Softball Begins

The 'From The Heart' feature series takes an in-depth look at St. Bonaventure student-athletes and coaches. Named for the beloved Merton's Heart that overlooks campus, this series will tell the stories of Bonnies athletic programs on and off the field. Click here for previous installments in the series.

Camden Decker has spent his entire life around the game of softball.

“My dad played men's fast pitch and got to a pretty high level,” Decker said. “As a kid, we spent the summers traveling around with him and watching his games.”

In college, Decker began playing fastpitch softball for a local team, eventually earning a spot on the USA Men’s Fastpitch National Team.

Fastpitch softball changed the trajectory of his life.

“I was playing with some guys who were college coaches, one in particular, Doug Gillis.

“He and I became fast friends and I went to a couple of his camps at Missouri,” Decker said. “I started doing private lessons and through Doug and his connections, I was able to get a foot in the door.”

That road eventually led to Western New York where Decker was named the new St. Bonaventure softball head coach this past July. As the calendar turns to 2026, he will lead the Bonnies for the first time this spring.

Despite being an assistant coach for 11 years, making stops including Troy, Kennesaw State, Delaware and Texas Arlington, this will be Decker’s first head coaching job.

“I can really get things going and set the trajectory the way that I want to set it,” Decker said.

Decker, who has mostly been a pitching coach, has had to transition away from the pitcher focus.

“I've always been a pitching coach so I want to be with the pitcher so that's been a little bit of a transition,” Decker said.

Over the past three seasons, Decker was part of a Troy staff that led the Trojans to 30 or more victories each season. 

Decker is regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in the game.

“I think that’s taken a little bit over the top,” Decker quipped. “I've just been learning and picking up things at each stop."

He directed three Sun Belt All-Conference pitchers and helped Troy to ranked victories over No. 23 Texas State and No. 17 Louisiana, finishing the season with a 34-22 overall record during the 2024 campaign.

Prior to Troy, Decker spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Kennesaw State where he helped the Owls to their first-ever NCAA Regional win over Auburn in 2021.

He also developed one of the top pitchers in the ASUN at Kennesaw State, earning ASUN Rookie of the Year honors as well as All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie Team selections in the circle.

In his first season at Troy, Decker helped the Trojans to a 2.84 staff ERA.

When Decker was hired at St. Bonaventure in July, his first step was calling all the returning players.

“I expressed my vision and enthusiasm for being here and being their coach,” he said. “They’re hungry, they want to win.”

Getting on campus allowed Decker to build relationships quicker.

“When they can feel immediate feedback and can see the immediate successes of what we're working on in practice, it becomes easier to build trust,” Decker said.

When Decker arrived on campus he first held a team meeting to set expectations.

The team crafted a mission statement, expectations and a team symbol.

The team symbol is the Enchanted Mountains logo with a sun rising behind.

“It symbolizes the new era of St. Bonaventure Softball,” Decker said. “We’re all in this together and we can get back in a winning track.”

For Decker it’s about getting back to the basics.

“We're focused on mechanics and are going to be a lot cleaner defensively this year,” he emphasized.

St. Bonaventure opens its schedule Feb. 6 against Stephen F. Austin in Texas.

Decker wants the focus to remain on the players.

“At the end of the day, the players are the heart and soul of the program."