Brown Joins Huskers as Volunteer Coach

Lincoln - Katie Brown has joined the Husker softball team as a volunteer assistant coach, Head Coach Rhonda Revelle announced on Thursday. Brown will bring a Big Ten flavor to the Nebraska dugout, as she was a four-year letterwinner at Iowa from 2007 to 2010.

"Katie brings an infectious enthusiasm to our program," Revelle said. "Playing for legendary coach Gayle Blevins provided Katie with an unbelievable experience of being trained by one of the very best in the profession's history.

"We are fortunate to now have Katie on board with our Husker program, and we look for her impact to be immediate and lasting." 

Brown played each of her four seasons at Iowa under former head coach Gayle Blevins, the second-winningest coach in NCAA Division I history. Blevins and Revelle are both members of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and Brown couldn't pass up the chance to learn from another hall-of-fame coach.

"I was interested in becoming a volunteer coach because I wanted to learn more about the coaching aspects of the game, and Nebraska was at the top of my list," Brown said. "After I talked with the coaches and understood who they were, I knew there was no other place for me.

"This coaching staff is one of the best in the country, and I am thankful for the opportunity Coach Revelle has placed in front of me. I am looking forward to learning more about the game and working with the coaches and student-athletes to help this team get to the World Series!"

As a player, Brown excelled while starting 175 games in her Hawkeye career. She posted a .282 career batting average with 31 doubles, 20 home runs, 89 RBIs and 70 walks in four seasons at Iowa. For her efforts, Brown was a two-time All-Big Ten selection, earning first-team honors in 2008 and second-team accolades in 2009. She also earned a spot on the 2008 Big Ten All-Tournament team and was named the co-Big Ten Player of the Week in May of that season. Brown also left her mark on the Iowa record book, ranking fifth in Hawkeye history with 20 career home runs and tying for 12th with 31 career doubles.

A native of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Brown also excelled in the classroom while earning degrees in elementary education and health and sports studies last May. A two-time academic All-Big Ten selection, Brown was also named to the academic all-district team as a senior. Brown is continuing her education at Nebraska, as she is pursuing a master's degree in higher education administration while volunteering with the Husker softball program.

Brown will get her first chance to work with the team when the Huskers open up fall practice on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Nebraska opens its eight-game fall exhibition schedule with the Husker Fall Classic Sept. 24 and 25 at Bowlin Stadium. Admission is free for the round-robin tournament, which also features Colorado State and Nebraska-Omaha.