Florida Atlantic University Head Softball Coach Joan Joyce has named Heather Gelbard as an assistant coach. Gelbard comes to FAU after serving as an assistant coach at Barry University for two years.  While at Barry, Gelbard worked primarily with the hitters and infielders.

“Heather is a great combination of youth and experience,” said Joyce. “She can still relate to the players, but she’s accomplished enough to be command respect as a coach.”

In 2008,  Gelbard was part of the Sunshine State Conference and South Region “Coaching Staff of the Year” as the Barry Bucs won the conference and regional titles, advancing to the Division II World Series.  That year, the Bucs posted the second highest batting average in program history, in addition to having the top fielding percentage in the country in Division II.

While at Barry, Gelbard coached four All-Americans, seven All-Region, and 10 All-Conference players.  A native of South Florida, she also has worked with the Miami Stingrays club teams for the past six years.

Gelbard’s experience as a softball player includes a brilliant four-year career at North Carolina State University.  She contributed more than 60 hits each of her four years and helped lead the Wolfpack to the 2006 regular-season ACC and ACC Tournament championships, and back-to-back NCAA Division I Regional Tournament berths in 2006 and 2007.  While at NC State, Gelbard was named All-Conference Second Team twice (2005, 2007) and was a NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-Southeast Region First-Team selection in her senior season.

As a member of the inaugural team in 2004, she collected the first hit, double and run scored in Wolfpack history.  Gelbard currently holds NC State career records in batting average (.313), hits (261), and doubles (41).  In her final season, she finished in the top 10 in the ACC for hits, homers, walks per game and batting average. She still is ranked eighth all-time in the ACC for career hits.  A four-time NC State Scholar-Athlete and ACC Honor Roll selection, she was named a Third-Team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American by CoSIDA in 2005.

Gelbard graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and also holds a master’s degree in sports psychology.

Source: FAU Media Relations