Northwestern University Athletics
Former B1G Standout Megan Blank Joins NU as Volunteer Assistant
9/10/2015 2:22:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan announced today that four-time first-team All-Big Ten selection Megan Blank will join the Wildcats program as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2015-16 season.
"We are excited to welcome Megan to Northwestern Softball," Drohan said. "Megan was an impact player on the field in the Big Ten and will make an immediate impact on our program as a coach. Her ability to deliver in the big moments will make her a key figure in our dugout this season."
Blank starred at Iowa from 2012-15, starting every game the Hawkeyes played during her tenure at the shortstop position. She compiled a career batting average of .410 with a .686 slugging percentage and a .503 on-base percentage, ripping 103 extra-base hits, driving in 153 runs and scoring 130 times.
In addition to her offensive prowess, Blank was one of the top defenders in the nation at the shortstop position. She was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team twice in her career after the conference created the award prior to the 2014 season.
"I'm very excited to be joining the Northwestern family," Blank said. "Even as a Big Ten rival for the last four years this program has always stood out to me. The Drohans have done an amazing job at not only creating an atmosphere of excellence both on and off the field, but have also instilled a great sense of family within this program. The passion that they have for softball and this university is unparalleled, and I'm looking forward to working with them and learning from them!"
A four-time NFCA All-Midwest Region honoree, Blank was invited to the USA Softball Women's National Team selection camp in 2013. She joined the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch via an open tryout in 2015. Blank worked her way into the Bandits' lineup as a rookie, blasting three home runs and driving in 13 while helping the franchise to the 2015 Cowles Cup Championship.
A native of Culver City, Calif., Blank graduated from Iowa with a degree in sport management along with a minor in psychology and sports studies. Blank will join fellow Bandit Michelle Gascoigne on the Northwestern coaching staff; Gascoigne was named NU's new pitching coach earlier this month.
"Having spent this past summer playing with the Bandits, I really fell in love with the Chicagoland area, so I'm excited that I'll be able to live here year round," Blank said. "Also, getting to play with Michelle this summer was a huge privilege. She's a true competitor who knows what it takes to win, and no one is a better teammate. I'm beyond excited that we get to continue working together, now in a different aspect of the game."
"We are excited to welcome Megan to Northwestern Softball," Drohan said. "Megan was an impact player on the field in the Big Ten and will make an immediate impact on our program as a coach. Her ability to deliver in the big moments will make her a key figure in our dugout this season."
Blank starred at Iowa from 2012-15, starting every game the Hawkeyes played during her tenure at the shortstop position. She compiled a career batting average of .410 with a .686 slugging percentage and a .503 on-base percentage, ripping 103 extra-base hits, driving in 153 runs and scoring 130 times.
In addition to her offensive prowess, Blank was one of the top defenders in the nation at the shortstop position. She was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team twice in her career after the conference created the award prior to the 2014 season.
"I'm very excited to be joining the Northwestern family," Blank said. "Even as a Big Ten rival for the last four years this program has always stood out to me. The Drohans have done an amazing job at not only creating an atmosphere of excellence both on and off the field, but have also instilled a great sense of family within this program. The passion that they have for softball and this university is unparalleled, and I'm looking forward to working with them and learning from them!"
A four-time NFCA All-Midwest Region honoree, Blank was invited to the USA Softball Women's National Team selection camp in 2013. She joined the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch via an open tryout in 2015. Blank worked her way into the Bandits' lineup as a rookie, blasting three home runs and driving in 13 while helping the franchise to the 2015 Cowles Cup Championship.
A native of Culver City, Calif., Blank graduated from Iowa with a degree in sport management along with a minor in psychology and sports studies. Blank will join fellow Bandit Michelle Gascoigne on the Northwestern coaching staff; Gascoigne was named NU's new pitching coach earlier this month.
"Having spent this past summer playing with the Bandits, I really fell in love with the Chicagoland area, so I'm excited that I'll be able to live here year round," Blank said. "Also, getting to play with Michelle this summer was a huge privilege. She's a true competitor who knows what it takes to win, and no one is a better teammate. I'm beyond excited that we get to continue working together, now in a different aspect of the game."
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