Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Adds Merchant as Volunteer Assistant Coach
9/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan announced today the addition of Brittini Merchant as the Wildcats volunteer assistant coach for the 2015 season.
"We are excited to welcome Brittini to our Northwestern softball family," Drohan said. "She has experience as a coach both in the Big Ten Conference and as an individual clinician, making her an invaluable asset to our staff. Her passion for coaching brought her back to the game of softball and we cannot wait for her to begin sharing her love of the sport with our program."
A two-time All-Mid-America Conference selection at Central Michigan from 2008-11, Merchant started all 186 games the Chippewas played during her tenure. As a senior, Merchant hit .325 with a team-best 12 doubles while starting every game at second base. She ranked 15th in the nation that year by striking out just once for every 23.3 at bats.
Immediately upon graduation, Brittini became a volunteer assistant coach at Minnesota for the 2012 season, where her sister, Jessica Merchant, serves as an assistant. The Golden Gophers went 31-22 with both Merchants on staff.
After leaving Minnesota, Merchant became an instructor at Elite Baseball and Softball in Grand Rapids, Mich., before leaving coaching to take a Supervisor position with General Motors in Toledo, Ohio. The move caused Merchant to realize her passion lived in coaching softball, leading her to return to the game in Evanston.
"I could not be happier to join the staff at Northwestern," Merchant said. "I am excited to help the Wildcats grow on and off the field every day, compete for a Big Ten championship and be one of the top programs in the country. I consider myself so blessed to be able to wear purple!"
A native of Wayland, Mich., Merchant is one of three sisters, all of whom played collegiate softball. In 2007, Merchant was named Miss Softball for the state of Michigan at her position.
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