March 26, 2007

Eastern New Mexico University athletic director Mike Maguire recently announced the hiring of former Lady Bear Amber Daniel as interim head softball coach for the remainder of the 2007 season. The position should be nothing new to Daniel, after serving as interim coach in the 2005 season and guiding the Zias to a 20-win season.

The Zias have won seven of eight games under Daniel's leadership to improve its season record to 20-17 overall through games of March 25.

Last season, Daniel served as a graduate assistant, and helped guide the team to a 33-21 record and the seventh highest batting average in the country. Offensively, the Zia topped the Lone Star Conference in batting average and doubles, finishing second in runs scored.

As a player, she was an All-American third basemen at Temple College, posting a .495 batting average with 17 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 64 runs batted in. For her efforts, she was selected as the Northern Texas Junior College Player of the Year, and selected All-Conference, All Region, and Academic All Conference.

Daniel concluded her playing career at NCAA Division I powerhouse, Baylor University, and received first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors and qualified for the Commissioner's Honor Roll for three semesters.

She was a four-year starter at Vanguard College Preparatory School in Waco Texas. While at VCPS, she was a four-time all-state and all-district selection, leading the squad to two state championships.