Heidelberg Grad Betsy Hada Named Head Softball Coach

Heidelberg College Director of Athletics Matt Palm is pleased to announce that 2001 graduate Betsy Hada has been named head softball coach. Hada brings a wealth of Ohio Athletic Conference playing and coaching experience to the Berg. She is just the 10th head coach in the history of the fast pitch program that dates back to 1985.

“Betsy is a strong recruiter who has numerous connections throughout Ohio and beyond that will pay dividends in her quest to raise the softball program to a conference front-runner,” commented Palm. “The athletic department has reached new heights of success and I am confident that Betsy will bring added enthusiasm and pride to the department.”

Heidelberg is a member of the 10-team Ohio Athletic Conference, the third oldest conference in the United States. The program has produced three all-region players, 18 All-OAC honorees, and has made two trips to the OAC Tournament.

Prior to Heidelberg, Hada was the assistant softball and pitching coach at Marietta College, as well as a resident director and instructor. The Pioneers were consistently ranked in the top-25 of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll and made the 2007 NCAA regional tournament. In 2006, Hada shared Ohio Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

She also has worked with Coast to Coast Softball, based out of Manchester, Conn., as an assistant coach and pitching instructor for the past three years. Hada travelled with the team to Hawaii in 2005 and Australia in 2007.

While at the Berg, Hada was a four-year letter winner and two-time captain, while spliting time on the mound and in centerfield. During her senior season, Hada was named Third Team All-Central Region. She currently stands second in the single season record book with 38 RBIs, 12 doubles, and fifth with five homeruns. In the career record book, Hada is fifth with 65 RBIs and third with seven homeruns.

“I would like to thank Matt, [Assistant A.D.] Jason Miller, and the Heidelberg College administration and staff for this opportunity,” stated Hada. “I am looking forward to returning to the Heidelberg community and building a program that will compete at a high level in the Ohio Athletic Conference.  I truly believe the Berg has great potential and I look forward to leading the softball program toward achieving our goals.”

A native of Painesville, Ohio, Hada will be inducted into the T.W. Harvey High School Athletic Hall of Fame this coming October. In 1997, she was named Co-Player of the Year by the Lake County News-Herald for her work on the mound as a Red Raider. She received a bachelor of arts in health and physical education from Heidelberg and a master’s degree in education from Marietta in 2006.