Sept. 9, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 8, 2008 - Head coach Robin Petrini announced today the hiring of Michele Hawkins as the new assistant coach/pitching coach for the Nittany Lion softball team. An alumna of Northwestern and former assistant coach at Michigan State, Hawkins brings a wealth of Big Ten experience and has also been a head coach, piloting the University of Chicago's program for two years in the late 90s.
"I am very excited to have Michele join our softball program," said Petrini. "Her energy, knowledge, and passion for the game are contagious. Michele's experiences, both playing and coaching, will be a huge asset to our pitching staff. She has proven herself in the Big Ten and at the professional level and will serve as a tremendous role model for our student-athletes."
Hawkins earned All-Mideast Region twice and was also an All-Big Ten selection when she played at Northwestern from 1990-94. After graduating with her degree in education and social policy, Hawkins joined the Michigan State staff as the pitching coach from 1994-97. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, she was also responsible for coordinating plans for the academic progress of her student-athletes and also monitored the life-skills development program for student-athletes. Hawkins was also active in the Spartans' recruitment process as well as planning practices and developing team strategies.
From there, Hawkins went back to Chicago, this time as the head coach at the University of Chicago. Including her duties as head coach, she also taught physical education courses such as weight training, strength and conditioning and racquetball. Hawkins also worked with the University of Chicago's athletic teams and individual athletes as requested as a specialist in group dynamics, performance enhancement, and team building, as well as providing individual counseling.
Hawkins temporarily left college coaching and put the Masters Degree she earned from Michigan State in Community and Agency Counseling to use in a variety of professional positions in Illinois, Florida, and Georgia. Throughout that time, Hawkins continued to be active with softball, speaking and instructing at youth and coaching camps and clinics throughout the United States, Slovakia, Puerto Rico, Denmark, Holland, Italy, and Canada. In 2000, Hawkins served as the Puerto Rican National Softball Team's pitching coach for the Men's, Women's, and Junior National Teams.
In 2006-07, she resumed coaching, this time at Emory University. Charged with the physical and mental development of the catching staff and assisting with the pitching staff's development, she also ran the team's agility training sessions. Hawkins managed the team travel arrangements and also maintained inventory of the team's equipment.
TRANSCATIONS: Penn State hires Michele Hawkins as new assistant softball coach.
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