Eastern Michigan Athletics
Softball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- ndenman@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.2274
Former Eastern Michigan University softball standout Nikki Denman was named the assistant coach of the softball program, head coach Karen Baird announced. Denman, who played for the Eagles from 2002-2006, replaces Jennifer Teague, who left the program to coach the Philadelphia Force of the National Pro Fastpitch League. She will be the pitching and catching coach while assisting with hitting for the Eagles.
Denman, a 2006 graduate of Eastern Michigan, spent the 2008 season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Eagles. Before rejoining EMU, the Toledo, Ohio native was a firefighter for the Spencer Township Fire Department, as well as a member of Swanton Fire/Rescue team. Denman also worked for Metroparks in the Toledo area, working as a building service person. While working for Metroparks, she wrote and received five grants for Wildwood Metropark.
Denman was one of the most well-rounded players ever in EMU history, ending her career with a .254 batting average and a 3.73 ERA in the circle. Her 446.1 innings pitched puts her fifth on the all-time list, along with ranking sixth in strikeouts (259). Her career fielding percentage of .982 ranks her seventh. On the offensive side of the ball, Denman is tied for third on the career list with 19 home runs. She hit 25 doubles during her tenure, collecting 69 RBI. Denman is also the only player in EMU history to hit three home runs in a single game (vs. Detroit, 4-6-04).
She was selected second team All-Mid-American Conference in both 2002 and 2004, along with being named to the All-Tournament team in 2006. A three-time Academic All-MAC selection, Denman earned third team National Fastpitch Coaches Association Academic All-American honors in 2003.
The Sylvania Southview High School product holds high school records in career wins (80), innings pitched (723.33), strikeouts (736), ERA (0.83) and strikeouts per game (7.51). She set six individual records in a season for the state of Ohio, racking up nine no-hitters, including three consecutive no-no’s during her senior season. Denman also put her name in the record books by pitching four perfect games, winning 26 games in one season and 80 games in a career. She also held the single-game standard of 18 strikeouts.
Denman graduated Magna Cum Laude from Eastern Michigan University in 2006, earning a B.S. degree in parks and recreation management. She is a member of the National Parks and Recreation Association and the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association. She is engaged to Bob Heckman.
