Annette Hunt-Shepherd has been named head coach of the Gettysburg College softball program according to Director of Athletics David Wright.
 
Hunt-Shepherd is the eighth head coach of the Bullets' softball program. She takes the mantle from interim coach Ashley Mowery, who will resume her role as an assistant with the softball and field hockey programs. Mowery took the interim job in January when former coach Samantha Abrams resigned to become the head coach at Ursinus College.
 
"I am thrilled that Annette Hunt-Shepherd will be joining the Gettysburg College athletic department staff as our new Head Softball Coach," said Wright. "During the interview process it became clear that her experience and background will be greatly beneficial to the student-athletes that she will coach. She has been a very successful head coach in the past and her recent expertise in developing students and facilitating team growth will be a major asset to our program."
 
Hunt-Shepherd brings a wide and varied background to Gettysburg. She was the head coach at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio from 2004 to 2010, guiding the Polar Bears to three Ohio Athletic Conference championships (2007, 2009, 2010) and one NCAA regional title. In 2009, Hunt-Shepherd led Ohio Northern to both conference and regional championships and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Softball Championships. In 2010, ONU won 41 games, competed in the regional tournament for the second consecutive season, and led the nation in team batting average (.382).  
 
Hunt-Shepherd was named OAC Coach of the Year three times as well as Regional Coach of the Year in 2009. She coached six All-Americans, 16 all-region selections, and 25 all-conference players at Ohio Northern. Hunt-Shepherd also served an assistant coach at ONU prior to assuming head coaching duties and she was the head women's soccer coach from 2001-03.
 
Following her time at Ohio Northern, Hunt-Shepherd spent one year as head coach at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. Most recently, she served as an assistant coach and Director of Wilderness Adventures at Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y.
 
Hunt-Shepherd began her playing career at Miami (Ohio) University, starting every game she played at first base and catcher from 1992 to 1994. She went on to play one year at Shippensburg University, grabbing All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference First Team accolades at third base in 1995 before closing her career at the University of Maryland. She served as the Terrapins team captain and helped the team win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 1997.
 
Hunt-Shepherd received her B.S. in Health Education from Maryland in 1997 and attained her master's in Park, Recreation, and Resource Management from Frostburg State University in 2004.  
The new coach will look to continue a strong tradition on the softball diamond at Gettysburg. The Bullets have won three Centennial Conference titles (1994, 1999, 2007) and have competed in the NCAA Division III Tournament twice (1999, 2007). Gettysburg finished 17-21 overall last season and 7-9 in the Centennial Conference.
 
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to be at Gettysburg College to coach the softball team," said Hunt-Shepherd. "Gettysburg has a long tradition of success and has great support for intercollegiate athletics. I'm looking forward to continuing that tradition."