Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University Director of Athletics and Recreation Gary Williams has announced the hiring of Nikki Miller as the Tigers’ new assistant softball coach. Miller comes to Wittenberg from Illinois State University where she has served as a graduate assistant in academic services monitoring academic progress of student-athletes.

In addition to her work at Illinois State, Miller coached softball at Normal Community West High School and for the BNGSA Xplosion youth organization since 2013. She also has worked a variety of softball camps and clinics across several states dating back to 2009. 

“We are excited to have Nikki join our coaching staff,” said Wittenberg Head Coach Laura Matthews. “She has been around the game of softball her entire life at the highest level, and her knowledge of the game and ability to teach the game will elevate our program to the next level.” 

A native of Starkville, Miss., Miller was a four-year letterwinner as a first baseman at Lake Forest College. A career .311 hitter, Miller served as a team captain as a senior. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2013 and will complete her master’s degree in sport management in May 2015. 

“I am very grateful to Coach Matthews for giving me the opportunity to join the Wittenberg softball program,” Miller said. “She has done an amazing job in the last two years, and I am excited to get to campus and continue to build upon the success of not just the softball program but the Department of Athletics as a whole.” 

Miller joins a Wittenberg softball program that has finished second in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) each the last two years. During that time, Wittenberg has a 47-24 overall record but has narrowly missed out on the NCAA Division III Tournament following back-to-back one-run losses in the NCAC Tournament championship game in both 2013 and 2014.