Bowling Green State University Athletics
Tiffany Ricks (left) & Brittany Lastrapes (right) have joined the BGSU softball coaching staff
Willis Names Assistant Coaches
August 25, 2015 | Softball
Lastrapes & Ricks Come to NW Ohio; Kopchak Returns for Third Season on the Staff at her Alma Mater
Bowling Green State University softball coach Sarah Willis has completed her coaching staff. Willis has named Brittany Lastrapes and Tiffany Ricks as assistant coaches, and has retained Kolleen Kopchak as volunteer assistant coach for the Falcons.
Lastrapes, a native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., is no stranger to the state of Ohio or the Mid-American Conference. She comes to BGSU after spending the last three years on the staff at Miami University. While with the RedHawks, Lastrapes primarily worked with the outfielders, slappers and hitters.
Lastrapes began her coaching career at MU after a stellar playing career at the University of Arizona. A leftfielder, she earned All-America honors in all four seasons for the Wildcats, including first-team accolades in 2009, '10 and '11 after earning All-America Third-Team honors as a freshman. Lastrapes was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team in each of her four years.
Lastrapes helped legendary coach Mike Candrea and the Wildcats post an NCAA runner-up finish during her junior season, and UA advanced to the College World Series three times during her career. She batted .417 during her four-year career, and graduated as the school's record-holder in career doubles (66). Lastrapes is listed among the school leaders on multiple season and career lists at UA. She started all 223 of the Wildcats' games during her four years. Additionally, Lastrapes was a member of the U.S. National Team from 2007-10.Â
Lastrapes earned a bachelor's degree in political science from UA in 2011, with a minor in sociology. She has taken classes toward earning her master's degree in sport administration at Miami.
"I am excited to name Brittany as the lead assistant for the BGSU softball program," said Willis. "We are extremely fortunate to have her join the staff. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the program and will make an immediate impact with the Falcons' offense and outfield. Â Brittany is one of the brightest young minds in the game today and her work ethic is exactly what our team needs."
Ricks, a native of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is beginning her coaching career at BGSU, after wrapping up an incredibly successful playing career in the spring of 2015. A graduate of the University of Dayton, Ricks was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year in '15, after batting .393 on the year, including .446 against A-10 opponents. She led the league in home runs (12), runs batted in (36) and runs scored (33).
Ricks, a first baseman, was named to the NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region Team in each of her last two seasons. She was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Team three times, and finished as UD's career leader in RBI (126) and slugging percentage (.660). Ricks ranks second all-time in career homers at Dayton, with 36.Â
Ricks and the Flyers earned the program's first Atlantic 10 regular-season title in 2015, breaking the school records for overall (39) and conference (20) wins in a season. UD went 39-14 overall and 20-2 in conference play, and advanced to the A-10 Tournament Championship final for the first time in school history.
Ricks graduated from UD in May of 2015 with a bachelor's degree in marketing.
"Tiffany is coming to the Falcon softball program after finishing a standout career with the Dayton Flyers, and her experience as one of the Atlantic 10's top offensive threats will provide great experience to our athletes," said Willis. "She played the game with an incredible amount of tenacity, heart and focus. I believe her approach to the game will make a significant contribution to the program."
Kopchak, a standout softball player at BGSU, returns for her third season with the Falcons. A native of Ashland, Ohio, and graduate of Ashland High School, she was a four-year letterwinner at BG. Kopchak hit .304 and earned All-MAC Second-Team honors in 1993, helping the Falcons to a MAC championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at her alma mater in 2014, Kopchak spent 11 years as an assistant at the high-school level in Northwest Ohio, coaching at Waite and Eastwood High Schools.
Kopchak graduated from BGSU in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and health. She earned her master's degree in education (special education) from BGSU in 2006.
"It is exciting to have Kolleen back this season as a volunteer assistant," said Willis. "We are extremely fortunate to have her on staff with the experience and the legacy she brings to the program. Her spirit and enthusiasm will be a key component as we look to return Falcons to the top of the MAC."
The Falcons graduated four seniors from last year's team, but a total of 19 student-athletes from that 2015 club return. Additionally, Willis and her staff welcome six true freshman to the roster for the 2015-16 academic year.
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Lastrapes, a native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., is no stranger to the state of Ohio or the Mid-American Conference. She comes to BGSU after spending the last three years on the staff at Miami University. While with the RedHawks, Lastrapes primarily worked with the outfielders, slappers and hitters.
Lastrapes began her coaching career at MU after a stellar playing career at the University of Arizona. A leftfielder, she earned All-America honors in all four seasons for the Wildcats, including first-team accolades in 2009, '10 and '11 after earning All-America Third-Team honors as a freshman. Lastrapes was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team in each of her four years.
Lastrapes helped legendary coach Mike Candrea and the Wildcats post an NCAA runner-up finish during her junior season, and UA advanced to the College World Series three times during her career. She batted .417 during her four-year career, and graduated as the school's record-holder in career doubles (66). Lastrapes is listed among the school leaders on multiple season and career lists at UA. She started all 223 of the Wildcats' games during her four years. Additionally, Lastrapes was a member of the U.S. National Team from 2007-10.Â
Lastrapes earned a bachelor's degree in political science from UA in 2011, with a minor in sociology. She has taken classes toward earning her master's degree in sport administration at Miami.
"I am excited to name Brittany as the lead assistant for the BGSU softball program," said Willis. "We are extremely fortunate to have her join the staff. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the program and will make an immediate impact with the Falcons' offense and outfield. Â Brittany is one of the brightest young minds in the game today and her work ethic is exactly what our team needs."
Ricks, a native of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is beginning her coaching career at BGSU, after wrapping up an incredibly successful playing career in the spring of 2015. A graduate of the University of Dayton, Ricks was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year in '15, after batting .393 on the year, including .446 against A-10 opponents. She led the league in home runs (12), runs batted in (36) and runs scored (33).
Ricks, a first baseman, was named to the NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region Team in each of her last two seasons. She was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Team three times, and finished as UD's career leader in RBI (126) and slugging percentage (.660). Ricks ranks second all-time in career homers at Dayton, with 36.Â
Ricks and the Flyers earned the program's first Atlantic 10 regular-season title in 2015, breaking the school records for overall (39) and conference (20) wins in a season. UD went 39-14 overall and 20-2 in conference play, and advanced to the A-10 Tournament Championship final for the first time in school history.
Ricks graduated from UD in May of 2015 with a bachelor's degree in marketing.
"Tiffany is coming to the Falcon softball program after finishing a standout career with the Dayton Flyers, and her experience as one of the Atlantic 10's top offensive threats will provide great experience to our athletes," said Willis. "She played the game with an incredible amount of tenacity, heart and focus. I believe her approach to the game will make a significant contribution to the program."
Kopchak, a standout softball player at BGSU, returns for her third season with the Falcons. A native of Ashland, Ohio, and graduate of Ashland High School, she was a four-year letterwinner at BG. Kopchak hit .304 and earned All-MAC Second-Team honors in 1993, helping the Falcons to a MAC championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at her alma mater in 2014, Kopchak spent 11 years as an assistant at the high-school level in Northwest Ohio, coaching at Waite and Eastwood High Schools.
Kopchak graduated from BGSU in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and health. She earned her master's degree in education (special education) from BGSU in 2006.
"It is exciting to have Kolleen back this season as a volunteer assistant," said Willis. "We are extremely fortunate to have her on staff with the experience and the legacy she brings to the program. Her spirit and enthusiasm will be a key component as we look to return Falcons to the top of the MAC."
The Falcons graduated four seniors from last year's team, but a total of 19 student-athletes from that 2015 club return. Additionally, Willis and her staff welcome six true freshman to the roster for the 2015-16 academic year.
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