TEMPE, Ariz.-- Head Arizona State softball coach, Trisha Ford, has announced the elevation of Jeff Harger to the position of Assistant Coach for the upcoming 2019 Sun Devil softball season.
"Honestly I have been working on adding Jeff to our staff for a few years now," head coach Trisha Ford said. "He has been around our teams in a variety of roles since I was at Fresno. For me he and I see the game very similarly and I think he is going to bring a lot to the field. I am really excited to see where our offensive game goes under his direction."
Harger, a California native, served as a Volunteer Assistant through the 2018 season, working primarily with the Sun Devil offense.
Harger guided an ASU roster that combined for 155 extra base hits during the 2018 season, including 66 home runs, a mark that stands as the most long balls for a Sun Devil offense since the 2015 season saw the Devils club 81 home runs. The powerful Sun Devil offense, combined with one of the nation's most prolific pitching staffs, proved to be a formidable duo in 2018, resulting in ASU reaching the NCAA Women's College World Series for the 12th- time in program history.
"He and coach Richardson did a great job working with our hitters last season," Ford added. "Those two did a great job working together. I think Jeff brings an intensity and a standard every day that focuses on no wasted time, no wasted movement. He really understands swing mechanics and I think our players are starting to really understand that piece of the game. This year already we have seen huge growth in that area."
The successful 2018 season for the Sun Devils also earned Ford, Harger and fellow assistant coach Carly Wynn their second NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honor. The trio also earned the honor in 2016 after guiding Fresno State to an impressive 42-12-1 record that included the Bulldog's first NCAA Postseason win since 2011.
The 2016 Fresno State team remains one of the most impressive Bulldog offenses in program history, setting all-time season records in most home runs (61), slugging percentage (.499) and finishing the year with the second-best conference record (22-1) in program history.
Prior to joining the Fresno State staff in 2016, Harger served as the head coach of the 18Gold Central California Dirt Dogs Organization, which was constructed in 2007 to help players from central California hone their skills to compete in the highest levels of softball.
"Honestly I have been working on adding Jeff to our staff for a few years now," head coach Trisha Ford said. "He has been around our teams in a variety of roles since I was at Fresno. For me he and I see the game very similarly and I think he is going to bring a lot to the field. I am really excited to see where our offensive game goes under his direction."
Harger, a California native, served as a Volunteer Assistant through the 2018 season, working primarily with the Sun Devil offense.
Harger guided an ASU roster that combined for 155 extra base hits during the 2018 season, including 66 home runs, a mark that stands as the most long balls for a Sun Devil offense since the 2015 season saw the Devils club 81 home runs. The powerful Sun Devil offense, combined with one of the nation's most prolific pitching staffs, proved to be a formidable duo in 2018, resulting in ASU reaching the NCAA Women's College World Series for the 12th- time in program history.
"He and coach Richardson did a great job working with our hitters last season," Ford added. "Those two did a great job working together. I think Jeff brings an intensity and a standard every day that focuses on no wasted time, no wasted movement. He really understands swing mechanics and I think our players are starting to really understand that piece of the game. This year already we have seen huge growth in that area."
The successful 2018 season for the Sun Devils also earned Ford, Harger and fellow assistant coach Carly Wynn their second NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honor. The trio also earned the honor in 2016 after guiding Fresno State to an impressive 42-12-1 record that included the Bulldog's first NCAA Postseason win since 2011.
The 2016 Fresno State team remains one of the most impressive Bulldog offenses in program history, setting all-time season records in most home runs (61), slugging percentage (.499) and finishing the year with the second-best conference record (22-1) in program history.
Prior to joining the Fresno State staff in 2016, Harger served as the head coach of the 18Gold Central California Dirt Dogs Organization, which was constructed in 2007 to help players from central California hone their skills to compete in the highest levels of softball.