COACHING STAFF
KATIE ANDERSON | HEAD COACH
The 2021 season with be the seventh at the helm of the North Park University softball team for head coach Katie Anderson.
Regarded as one of the most decorated student-athletes ever to wear the Viking uniform, Anderson was named the new head coach of the NPU program for the 2015 season, succeeding 18-year veteran Dan Gooris, who now serves as an assistant coach.
Anderson completed a successful playing career for the Vikings. A four-year letter winner and starter at the shortstop position, Anderson carries numerous North Park softball records, including the most hits in a career (169) career RBI (111) and most home runs (12). She also ranks top-three in most home runs in a single season as well as triples in a career (12).
In addition to being the NP career-leader in hits, RBI and home runs, Anderson has the most doubles in a single season (14) as well as most doubles in a career with 40. She earned her undergraduate degree in Physical Education in the Spring of 2012 and pursued her studies as the team’s graduate assistant shortly after.
In 2013, Anderson was the graduate assistant coach on a staff that garnered recognition as the CCIW’s coaching staff of the year.
That season, the Vikings finished with one of their best records in history, posting an overall record of 24-12 while marking a 6-12 slate in the CCIW.
North Park finished the 2013 season on a hot streak, winning five of their last six games of the season, including a doubleheader sweep of North Central College in Naperville.
During the 2018 season, Anderson coached her first NFCA All-Region selection in sophomore shortstop Hayley Jackson.
Jackson posted a slash line of .424/.489/.678 while slugging 11 doubles, 5 triple, 3 homers, and 35 runs batted in. She also added 87 defensive assists, scored 24 runs, and struck out just 9 times in 118 at-bats.
Rachel Eberling | ASSISTANT COACH
2021 marks the second season with the North Park softball team for Coach Eberling.
Prior to North Park, Eberling was a four-year letterwinner at Muskingum University. As a pitcher, Eberling recorded a career record of 36-26 with a 2.93 ERA. Additionally, Eberling fanned 201 batters against only 108 walks in 425.1 innings of work. In 72 starts, she went the distance in 39 games in the circle for the Fighting Muskies. At the plate, Eberling was a career .311 hitter with 26 home runs and 88 RBIs. Additionally, Eberling hit 28 doubles and swiped 14 bags.
Eberling was selected to the All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) First Team as a senior, the All-OAC Second Team as a junior, and named an All-OAC Honorable Mention as a sophomore. Eberling graduated in 2019 with a degree in Child and Families Studies.