Heather Han
| Title: | Assistant Coach |
Heather Han joined Mercer in September 2015 as the softball volunteer assistant coach. Previously Han spent three years as an assistant at Northern Illinois University. At Mercer, she will work with the outfield, catchers and hitters.
At NIU, Han was in charge of the defense, team travel, camps, community service, recruitment, retainment and development of student-athletes. In 2015, Han helped many student-athletes earn conference and regional accolades including sophomore Kayti Grable earning second team NFCA All-Great Lakes Region, first team All-MAC, MAC Player of the week honors and NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.
Han also mentored freshman Alaynie Woollard to a MAC Player of the week honor as well as a slot on the All-MAC Freshman team alongside fellow freshman infielder Bekah Harnish. In addition to maintaining high standards on the field, Han helped the Huskies to complete 180 hours of community service and earn three Victor’s Cups, an all-encompassing award given to one women’s and one men’s team for high standards.
In 2014, Kayti Grable earned the MAC Freshman of the Year Award, in addition to a spot on the All-MAC team under Han’s tutelage. Han also had a hand in helping Shelby Miller claim the Nan Harvey Sportswoman of the Year Award, which is given annually by the conference to an individual who exhibits leadership qualities on and off the diamond. Statistically, the Huskies led the MAC and rank 28th nationally in double plays with 24, while finishing second in putouts and third in assists.
In 2013, Han helped guide first baseman Jennifer Barnett to a first team All-MAC selection, two MAC West Player of the Week honors, MAC Honor Roll and NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete. Barnett was also a finalist for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award. Another top performer in the infield last season was shortstop Amanda Sheppard. Sheppard excelled on the softball field and in the classroom being named to the MAC All-Tournament Team, earning academic All-MAC, NIU Outstanding Woman Award, MAC Honor Roll and NFCA All-America accolades.
Han came to NIU after spending the 2012 season as a volunteer assistant at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to her year with the Flames, she spent two years as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Eastern Michigan University, while serving as a graduate assistant in EMU's Student Athlete Support Services department.
A native of Lafayette, Ind., Han lettered for the Eagles from 2006-09, starting 180 games, including all 45 games of the 2008 season behind the plate. She currently ranks ninth on EMU's career doubles list with 31. Han excelled on the field and in the classroom, as she was named to the 2006 MAC All-Freshman Team and earned Academic All-MAC accolades in 2009.
Han earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education reading in 2009 and her master's in sport management in 2011 from Eastern Michigan. She was on the Dean's List all four years.
