Becker Named 2008 GLIAC Softball Coach of the Year

MIDLAND – Ferris State University head softball coach Keri Becker has never been one to allow her emotions to get too high over individual awards.

That held true even early Friday afternoon as she was officially named the 2008 “Michael J. Corbett” GLIAC Coach of the Year during the awards ceremony at Emerson Park’s Currie Stadium. Becker, currently in her 11th season as the head coach of the Bulldogs, was humbled by the honor however she passed credit along to her players and assistant coaches (Lesa Bickley and Chad Haberland).

“Winning the coach of the year award means I had a good team this year that performed well on the field,” Becker said after her team’s 3-1 win over Mercyhurst to open the GLIAC Tournament with a victory. “When you look at an award like this, and I have never been one to really focus on individual awards, this is an award where the credit goes to the players on the team.” Still, in a league with so many great coaches who have done a great job this spring, Becker was honored by the recognition from the conference.

“It’s a nice honor when you get this kind of recognition from your peers because (the coaches) know what it means to be doing this kind of job,” Becker said as her Bulldogs improved to 28-14 this season. “It’s definitely an honor.”

Becker previously has been named GLIAC Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2003.

This season, the Bulldogs finished 16-4 in the conference and tied Wayne State as the regular-season conference co-champions.