PEORIA, Ill. -- After spending the 2017 season as a volunteer assistant coach, former Bradley Softball standout Rachel Huggins has been promoted to assistant coach according to an announcement by nine-year Bradley head coach Amy Hayes Thursday.
 
"To have a player who knows you, your philosophy, and your expectations and want to coach within the program they grew up in is such a huge asset," said Hayes.  "Rachel will infuse our staff with a fresh, innovative and mature view of the game. She knows what it's like to be a role player, a starter and she finished her career at Bradley as one the most mentally in-tune hitters our program has ever seen."
 
"It's an indescribable feeling to be able to return home to my Bradley family," said Huggins.  "I am very fortunate for the opportunities and knowledge that Coach Hayes has shared with me.  I'm looking forward to getting the team back on campus and start working towards our goals for next season."
 
This past spring Bradley had a trio of NFCA All-Mideast performers in first-team selections Kelly Kapp and Caitlyn McCarron along with third-team pick Maria Schroeder.  Kapp and McCarron were both First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honorees following record-setting campaigns for both, while freshman Kealia Wysocki was a Second-Team All-Valley selection.
 
"Last year, she gained my trust quickly and ended the season training and running our infield," added Hayes.  "She also spent valuable time in the cages with our hitters and has first-hand knowledge of our offensive mechanics and goals as a former student-athlete at Bradley.  Even though she is just two years out she has a real rapport with our hitters and is ready to step into that lead role.  I am excited she is taking this next step and I look forward to seeing her grow as a coach and a mentor."
 
A second-team All-MVC performer as a senior, Huggins slugged a school season record 12 home runs as a senior and was named the team's MVP for the 2016 campaign.  Her team-best 39 RBI tied for the fifth-best season total in school history at the time and her .603 slugging percentage as a senior ranked third.
 
After starting a total of 17 games her first three seasons, Huggins started 47 of 48 games at designated player in 2016 and hit .300 with eight home runs in MVC play in addition to tying the Bradley mark for RBI in conference games by driving in 24 runs.
 
The Mt. Zion, Ill., native graduated from Bradley in 2016 with a degree in communications (television).