Keri Becker Position: Head Coach Experience: 10th Year

If building a winning program is supposed to take time, then Ferris State University ninth-year head coach Keri Becker has exceeded virtually everyone's expectations but her own.

As with any highly-competitive individual, Becker has achieved success at Ferris State through determination and hard work. But, despite facing adversity the past few years, she has aspirations of attaining even more significant goals in the seasons to come.

"Like many coaches, I've faced my share of adversity when it comes to winning," said Becker. "While this may create frustration for some, it only has driven me to work harder in finding different ways to prepare, train and inspire my players. I stress to my players the importance of keeping winning and losing in perspective and coaching is no different."

Adversity makes the drive to succeed that much greater and Becker has experienced her share of adversity both on and off the field. She was called to active United States Army duty in late February 2003 in support of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and subsequently missed the entire 2003 softball campaign. On Feb. 20, 2003, Becker's travels started with refresher military training at Ft. Leonardwood, Mo., and eventually landed her at Camp As Sayliyah in Doha, Qatar. She served a six-month stint there before returning to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. to complete her tour of duty.

"It was difficult not being able to coach my team, but the experience of serving my country was certainly a positive one," stated Becker, who was selected the 2003 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coach of the Year. "The time away made me realize just how much passion I have for coaching and my team. I'm rejuvenated and ready more than ever to lead this program to greatness."

Ferris' recent success occurred in 2005 as the Bulldogs won the GLIAC Tournament and claimed a share of the overall conference title. FSU, which posted a 31-20 overall record last spring, also earned a bid to the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Tournament for the first time since 1999.

Prior to last season, the Bulldogs turned in a 33-18 overall mark for the 2000 campaign while claiming the GLIAC Championship title for the first time since 1982. The previous campaign (1999), Ferris set a team single-season record with 46 victories and captured its second straight Great Lakes Regional title.

Following its first-ever regional title in 1998, Becker's team finished third at the NCAA Division II Championships in Pensacola, Florida. The placing marked the highest national finish ever for a Ferris State women's athletics team at that time.

In nine seasons at FSU, Becker holds the distinction of being the school's all-time winningest coach with a 282-192-1 career record (.595 winning pct.) as the Bulldogs have averaged over 31 victories per season during her coaching career. Furthermore, Becker has directed Ferris to a share of the overall conference crown (2005), an overall conference title (2000), three (1999, 2000 and 2005) first-place GLIAC Tournament finishes, a pair (1998-99) of NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Championship crowns and the three (1997-99) most successful seasons in the program's history. She made her first season as head coach a memorable one by being honored as the 1997 GLIAC Coach of the Year.

Becker currently ranks 51st among the NCAA Division II's winningest active softball coaches in winning percentage and is tied for 57th place in career victories.

Prior to Ferris, Becker served two seasons (1995-96) as an assistant coach at Saginaw Valley State University. As a student-athlete at SVSU, Becker enjoyed a stellar softball career for the Cardinals in which she received all-conference first-team honor four straight seasons and was a two-time academic all-league selection as a four-year starter.

The Sanford, Mich., native received a softball scholarship to SVSU after concluding a notable prep athletics career at Sanford-Meridian High School in Sanford, Mich. An all-state and four-time all-conference pick in softball, Becker played an integral role in helping the Mustangs capture the 1987 State Class B title under coach Gary Edwards. A four-year starter at SMHS, she presently holds seven school batting records, including most hits, home runs and RBI, and four pitching records, including most wins and lowest earned run average.

Becker competed in basketball three years, attaining all-conference and all-area laurels. Becker serves as a member of the National Championship Softball Committee and is chair of the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Ranking Committee. She also holds membership in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

A resident of Howard City, Mich., Becker also serves as the FSU Athletics Department's Compliance Coordinator. Her interests include downhill skiing, boating and playing with beloved dogs -- McKenzie, a Labrador Retreiver, and Gabby, a Husky.

Prior to being called to active duty, Becker served eight years (1992-00) in the United States Army Reserve and held the rank of sergeant.