Missouri Southern Athletic Director Jared Bruggeman has announced that Hallie Blackney has been named the Interim Head Softball Coach.
Blackney joined the staff in late July and will serve in an Interim capacity while a national search for a head coach is conducted. She replaces Melissa Chmielewski who decided to leave the program to become an assistant with North Dakota State.
"We were active within the hiring process, prior to Melissa's (Chmielewski) departure and knew Hallie would be a good fit with our department," Bruggeman said. "We are extremely pleased to have her on staff and know she will work well during this time of transition."
Blackney comes to Southern after two seasons with Division I George Washington University. In 2018, Blackney helped guide the program to a record 33 wins and a return to the A-10 Championship behind a nationally ranked offense that averaged more than six runs per game. The Colonials set new program bests for batting average (.328), on-base percentage (.394), slugging percentage (.493), hits (493), runs (331), home runs (42), total bases (741), steals (108) and more.
Thanks to that impressive production, GW equaled a program record with its six A-10 postseason honorees.
In her first season in 2017, Blackney helped GW to a then-record 28 victories, including 11 in A-10 play. The Colonials set program records for hits (426), batting average (.302), RBI (243), extra-base hits (125), total bases (626), slugging percentage (.444), fewest strikeouts (201) and best fielding percentage (.964).
Blackney joined the Colonials after serving as assistant coach at the University of South Dakota for three seasons. Blackney coached 15 All-Summit League selections, three NFCA All-Region honorees and one academic All-American for the Coyotes.
Blackney helped South Dakota amass 72 wins during her tenure and worked primarily with the hitters, leading the squad to a Summit League-record 77 home runs in 2015, ranking 17th nationally.
Prior to her stint at South Dakota, Blackney helped the Fort Wayne Mastodons in Indiana claim a Summit League Tournament Title to earn a trip to NCAA Regionals during her two years as assistant coach.
Blackney began her Division I coaching experience at Southeast Missouri State University during the 2011-12 season. She is a 2008 graduate of Truman State University where she was an All-MIAA utility player. She served as a graduate assistant coach at Division II Bemidji State University from 2009-11.
"I would like to thank Jared Bruggeman, Karesa Burr, and Melissa Chmielewski for the opportunity to become a member of the Lion family," Blackney said. Having grown up in the MIAA as a student-athlete, I have great respect for the schools, coaches, and student-athletes. I am so grateful to be back in my home state and cannot wait to get to work with our team."
No comments:
Post a Comment