University of Massachusets Athletics
Merchant Accepts Coaching Position At Minnesota
September 01, 2010 | Softball
Sept. 1, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Minnesota has announced that UMass softball assistant coach Jessica Merchant has accepted an assistant coaching position with the Golden Gophers. Merchant spent four seasons with the Minutewomen, helping lead the team to an Atlantic 10 Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth in each of those seasons.
In Merchant's four seasons working under head coach Elaine Sortino and with fellow assistant coach Kristi Stefanoni, UMass had a cumulative record of 164-47-2 (.775), winning the A-10 title and hosting an NCAA Regional all of those seasons.
"We were very fortunate to have had Jessica Merchant as a valuable member of out coaching staff for the past four years," Sortino said. "We all wish her continued success in her new position and we will miss her."
Working primarily with the infielders, Merchant coached numerous All-Conference and NFCA All-Region performers. The former All-American shortstop helped led the UMass defense to ranking in the top two in the A-10 in fielding percentage each of the last three years. In 2010, UMass committed the fewest errors in the country (28) and had the seventh-best fielding percentage (.978).
At Minnesota, Merchant will be working with first-year head coach Jessica Allister, a recent hire from Oregon. The Golden Gophers are looking to rebuild after back-to-back losing seasons of 23-32 in 2009 and 16-37 in 2010.
Merchant came to UMass after serving a one-year stint as a volunteer assistant at Michigan. That followed a stellar four-year career in Ann Arbor. As a senior captain in 2005, she led the Wolverines to their first NCAA Championship. A two-time NFCA All-American, Merchant graduated as the school's career home run leader (46) - she now ranks second - and shares the single season home run mark (21).
In 2006, the Wayland, Mich., native was a member of the USA Softball Elite Team that won the Intercontinental Cup title. Hitting .500 with a home run and eight RBIs, she was chosen the event's MVP.
Merchant, a 2005 Michigan graduate with a degree in Sport Management and Communication. She played two seasons with the Connecticut Brakettes of the National Pro Fastpitch League and most recently with the New England Riptide. She was also invited to the Women's National Team selection camp in 2006.
