Eric Oakley - Softball Coach - Eastern Michigan University Athletics

Eric Oakley

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
eoakley@emich.edu
Phone:
734.487.2274

Eric Oakley is in his third season with the Eastern Michigan University softball team, where his primary responsibilities will be working with the outfielders, base running, hitting and conditioning. He also recruits for the Eagles and is coordinating both indoor and outdoor tournaments for high school players.

The 2008 season saw some Eagles achieve personal goals, including: Stephanie Sabo’s third consecutive errorless season, Ashley Strauss’ MAC leading .512 batting average, and Jenny Scherer taking over the second place position in career homeruns with her 22nd round-tripper as an Eagle.

The 2007 season was a banner year Eagles, as they won the first championship in program history and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. EMU racked up the postseason awards as shortstop Lauren Clark repeated as MAC Player of the Year, four Eagles were selected to All-MAC teams and Baird was selected the MAC Coach of the Year.

After struggling during the non-conference portion of the season, the Green and White regrouped to open conference play. EMU won 11 of its first 13 conference games, en route to capturing the West title and earning a No.2 seed for the MAC Tournament.

The Eagles rattled off four straight victories over Bowling Green, Ohio twice and Central Michigan to win the tournament and the conference’s automatic entry to the NCAA Tournament. Playing in the NCAA Regional at the University of Michigan, the Eagles fell to the Wolverines, 3-0, and then bowed out of the tournament with a loss to Oregon State.

Prior to joining the Eagles, Oakley was the head coach at Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School.

Oakley, an EMU graduate with a degree in political science, coached competitive travel softball from 1999-2004, primarily with the Motor City Madness organization. His 2001 18-and-under team finished third at the Triple Crown World Series. The squad was the only team east of the Mississippi River to qualify and compete in the national event. He has coached several players who have gone on to play at the collegiate level.

A member of the NFCA, he began coaching in 1992 with Brighton Parks and Recreation. He coached junior varsity softball at both Novi High School and Farmington Hills Mercy High School. His coaching career also includes two years of coaching girls’ varsity basketball at Birmingham Seaholm High School.