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Softball
Wherever her career has taken her, Christy Hebert has been a part of softball at its highest level. From her days as a standout for Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to an all-America career at the University of Iowa to the professional ranks and beyond, Hebert has played for great coaches, played alongside great players and coached some of the game's great programs. Now, in her fifth year as head coach at the University of Northern Iowa, Hebert's goal is to return to that highest level, a place the Panthers once knew very well. As the 2007 season begins, UNI celebrates the 30th anniversary of its 1977 Women's College World Series championship and the 25th anniversary of the Panthers' 1982 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women title. Hebert's coaching philosophy revolves around teaching the fundamentals to her players. Strong pitching, solid hitting and a good defense are the building blocks of a great team, and Hebert works to infuse her players with the tools necessary to win. It is a system Hebert learned by playing for some of the best to ever coach the game. Her education began under legendary high school coach Larry Niemeyer at Jefferson and continued at Iowa under Gayle Blevins, the third-winningest coach in NCAA Division I history. Hebert was twice named an all-American as part of three straight Women's College World Series teams at Iowa. In six years at UNI, including two as an assistant coach, Hebert has coached a first team all-American, two all-Midwest Region selections, 13 all-Missouri Valley Conference picks and five MVC scholar-athlete honorees. In 2001-02, she helped guide the Panthers to the MVC Tournament. Hebert arrived at UNI after serving as an assistant coach at Northwestern from 1998-2000 under hall of fame head coach Sharon Drysdale. She helped the Wildcats reach the NCAA Tournament in 2000. From 1998-2000, Hebert was a member of the North Carolina Diamonds and the Tampa Bay Firestix of the Women's Professional Softball League. She was named an all-star shortstop in 1998. As a student-athlete at Iowa, Hebert graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management. She was named to both the all-Big Ten and all-America squads in 1996 and 1997. As a standout shortstop, she helped the Hawkeyes to the Women's College World Series from 1995-1997, when she was named to the all-tournament team. At Jefferson High School, Hebert earned 13 varsity letters in softball, basketball, track and field, and volleyball. She competed in 10 state tournaments in her four years of high school and was state champion three times. She also was inducted into the Iowa High School Softball Hall of Fame. Off the field, Hebert has worked with softball and basketball camps and clinics, volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House, and worked in community outreach at University Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa. Away from softball, Hebert enjoys sports, outdoor activities and spending time with her chocolate lab, Koby. |
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