June 19, 2007

JACKSON, Tenn. - Union University announces the hiring of Heather Ford as the new head softball coach. Ford will take the lead from Union's Athletic Director Dr. David Blackstock who served as softball coach for the past two seasons. In addition to her head coaching duties in softball, Ford will also serve as the assistant volleyball coach.

Ford, a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, has spent the past two seasons as the assistant coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin under the leadership of Head Coach Donley Canary.

"I am very excited and honored to have this opportunity for my first head coaching job, and proud to represent Union University," states Ford. "While working for Coach Canary at UT Martin, I was given many opportunities and responsibilities that will help me greatly in this new challenge. I've had the opportunity to meet with some of the girls and(Assistant) Coach (Steven) Gream and I'm looking forward to working with them and the rest of the coaching staff at Union."

Union University President Dr. David S. Dockery adds, "Heather brings to her new appointment as Union's head women's softball coach and assistant volleyball coach a significant background in women's athletics. Heather has fine leadership qualities which will enable her to continue to build on and expand the strong program in women's softball that has been developed over the past decade. We are grateful for Heather's commitment to Union's mission and for her support for Union's dedication to academic excellence as she directs our student-athletes in days ahead."

Ford played college softball at Gannon University in Erie Pennsylvania from 2001-2004. While at Gannon, she set numerous school records. Ford holds careers records for strikeouts (857), shutouts (35), innings pitched, ERA (1.06), wins 68), complete games (81), and games started.She also holds Gannon single season records for strikeouts (226), while also holding the second, third, and fourth spots for strikeouts in a season. Ford adds single season records in ERA (0.51), complete games, innings pitched, and shutouts to her list of milestones. In 2001, Ford was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year and was a three-time All-GLIAC performer (2001, 2002, and 2004). In 2002, Ford's ERA and strikeouts placed her second and third respectively in NCAA Division II ranks.

Ford has competed in the Canadian Nationals at the junior and senior levels. She was named the MVP for the Canadian Senior Women's National Tournament in 2002.

"Heather will bring a wealth of softball knowledge to the Union softball program," states UT Martin Head Coach Donley Canary. "Her vast international experience with the Canadian National Program plus her overseas playing career will greatly enhance her softball head coaching ability. The last two seasons at UT Martin, she coached an extremely young pitching staff that competed at the top of Ohio Valley Conference. This was largely due to her diligent work with the team pitchers." Canary adds, "I hate to lose her, but it is a great opportunity for this truly talented young lady to advance her career in the softball coaching ranks. Heather will be successful and Union will benefit from her efforts".

Union Athletic Director, Dr. David Blackstock agrees, "We are very excited to have Heather join our coaching staff at Union. She has a great deal of experience, especially in pitching, and will bring those experiences as a player and a coach to her job here at Union. We are very fortunate to have Heather to lead our softball program."

Blackstock coached the Union Softball team to a two-year record of77-36 (.681), including a combined conference record of 33-14 with two TranSouth Tournament appearances and one NAIA Region XI Tournament appearance. Blackstock's team set the Union homerun record in each of his two seasons. He also coached the TranSouth and NAIA Region XI Player of the year this past season.