George Washington University Athletics
GW Softball Names Hallie Blackney Assistant Coach
10/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
WASHINGTON - George Washington softball has named Hallie Blackney assistant coach, head coach James DeFeo announced.
"I am so excited to add Hallie to the Colonials softball family," said DeFeo. "She will bring exceptional coaching insight and enthusiasm to GW. Her knowledge of the game, experience and focus will immediately help us bring our program to new levels of excellence."
DeFeo adds a wealth of Division I coaching experience in Blackney, who joins the Colonials after serving as assistant coach at the University of South Dakota for three seasons. Blackney coached 15 All-Summit League selections, three NFCA All-Region honorees and one academic All-American for the Coyotes.
Blackney helped South Dakota amass 72 wins during her tenure and worked primarily with the hitters, leading the squad to a Summit League-record 77 home runs in 2015, ranking 17th nationally.
Prior to her stint at South Dakota, Blackney helped the Fort Wayne Mastodons in Indiana claim a Summit League Tournament title to earn a trip to NCAA Regionals during her two years as assistant coach.
Blackney began her Division I coaching experience at Southeast Missouri State University during the 2011-12 season. A 2008 graduate of Truman State University, Blackney served as a graduate assistant coach at Division II Bemidji State University from 2009-11.
"I would like to thank James for bringing me aboard and giving me the opportunity to help him establish a championship culture here at GW," said Blackney. "I have known and respected the DeFeo family for a few years now, and I am ecstatic to work for someone who has as much experience and passion as James does. Along with the sky high potential of the softball program, I am grateful to be a part of a university that has such an outstanding academic reputation. I look forward to helping our student-athletes become the best people, students, and athletes possible!"
