Heather Han will serve as a full-time assistant coach for Mercer Softball following a year spent as a volunteer coach.
Heather Han Announced as Softball Assistant Coach
9/6/2016 10:15:00 AM | Softball
Following year spent as volunteer coach
MACON, Ga. – After spending a year on the Mercer softball staff as a volunteer, Heather Han will remain on the Bears' staff as a full-time assistant coach, head coach Stephanie DeFeo announced Tuesday morning.
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The decision to maintain Han follows DeFeo's recent promotion from co-head coach to head coach on Aug. 17. Han, who works primarily with Mercer's outfielders, catchers and hitting approach, will continue to focus on those areas moving forward.
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"Heather will continue to bring a wealth of knowledge to our staff and players," DeFeo said. "She elevated our team's defensive performance last season as a volunteer, and having her on board full-time now will only continue to bring consistency to our program. Heather knows what needs to be improved upon from last year and that will help us transition well into the new season."
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Han helped mold senior catcher Natalie Shiver into an All-Southern Conference Second Team selection last season as she batted .325 with a team-leading seven home runs and 40 RBIs while defensively leading a young pitching staff behind the dish.
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Han's leadership also helped then-junior outfielder Taylor Miller lead the SoCon in batting (.414) and make the switch from right field to left field mid-season.
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"I am very excited to continue coaching and being a part of the Mercer family," Han said. "It's a great opportunity to coach alongside Stephanie [DeFeo], who shares such a passion and wealth of knowledge for the game of softball."
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A native of Lafayette, Indiana, Han spent time as an assistant at Northern Illinois, University of Illinois at Chicago and her alma mater, Eastern Michigan before arriving in Macon.
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How to Follow the Bears:
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), Mercer University Softball (Facebook) and @mercerusoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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The decision to maintain Han follows DeFeo's recent promotion from co-head coach to head coach on Aug. 17. Han, who works primarily with Mercer's outfielders, catchers and hitting approach, will continue to focus on those areas moving forward.
Â
"Heather will continue to bring a wealth of knowledge to our staff and players," DeFeo said. "She elevated our team's defensive performance last season as a volunteer, and having her on board full-time now will only continue to bring consistency to our program. Heather knows what needs to be improved upon from last year and that will help us transition well into the new season."
Â
Han helped mold senior catcher Natalie Shiver into an All-Southern Conference Second Team selection last season as she batted .325 with a team-leading seven home runs and 40 RBIs while defensively leading a young pitching staff behind the dish.
Â
Han's leadership also helped then-junior outfielder Taylor Miller lead the SoCon in batting (.414) and make the switch from right field to left field mid-season.
Â
"I am very excited to continue coaching and being a part of the Mercer family," Han said. "It's a great opportunity to coach alongside Stephanie [DeFeo], who shares such a passion and wealth of knowledge for the game of softball."
Â
A native of Lafayette, Indiana, Han spent time as an assistant at Northern Illinois, University of Illinois at Chicago and her alma mater, Eastern Michigan before arriving in Macon.
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How to Follow the Bears:
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), Mercer University Softball (Facebook) and @mercerusoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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