Head Coach To Miss 2003 Season

Ferris State University softball coach Keri Becker will miss the 2003 softball season as a result of being called to active duty in the United States of America Army Reserves.

Becker will travel to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., on Feb. 20 for processing and a refresher training program. She then will await orders for deployment to a location to be determined.

"I'm truly honored to go and knew this might happen when I enlisted 10 years ago," stated Becker, who holds the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves. "My country needs me and I trust in my government. I guess my primary worry is the unknown - what I'm going to be doing and where."

Ferris State Athletics Director Tom Kirinovic has mixed feelings about Becker not being able to coach this season.

"What greater honor can a person have than to say they've served their country," said Kirinovic. "We're proud of what Keri is doing, but at the same time we're disappointed she's leaving."

The program's all-time winningest coach, Becker has compiled a current 201-125 overall record (.617 winning pct.) in six seasons at FSU. Becker recorded her 200th career coaching victory at the 2002 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Softball Tournament in Ashland, Ohio, as the Bulldogs posted a 5-4 triumph over the Hillsdale Chargers (May 3). She has averaged over 33 victories per season during her coaching career while guiding the Bulldogs to two consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament appearances (1998 and 1999). In 1998, Ferris State finished third overall at the NCAA-II National Championships in Pensacola, Fla., as the Bulldogs made their first national tourney appearance since 1982. The team's third-place finish represents the highest placing ever for a FSU women's athletics team.

The 1997 GLIAC Coach-of-the-Year in her initial collegiate campaign, Becker has led Ferris to two first-place GLIAC Tournament (1999-00) finishes along with a conference overall championship title (2000) for the first time since 1982.

"Keri has worked extremely hard to build this year's team and certainly her departure will cast a shadow on any success they have," said Kirinovic. "It will be somewhat hollow without her being able to be a part of it. However, they're good kids and she has instilled a great will to win in them. I have no doubt they will be successful and the success they achieve will be a reflection on her."

With Becker's departure, Lesa Bickley and Chad Haberland will serve as interim co-head coaches for the 2003 campaign. Bickley served as head coach at fellow conference-member institution the University of Findlay (Ohio) for three years (1998-00) while Haberland was a full-time assistant coach at Ferris State for two seasons (1999-00) after spending the previous year (1998) as a volunteer assistant.

"I couldn't ask for two better people to coach the team in my absence," Becker said. "They're a great compliment to each other and realize the importance of representing Ferris State University well. Both of them are excited about getting this opportunity."