INDIANAPOLIS – Following the departure of four-year softball head coach
Amanda Rivera in recent weeks,
Heather Tarter has been named the interim head coach for the 2016-17 season, as announced by IUPUI Director of Athletics #Dr. Roderick Perry# Tuesday (Sep. 6).
"Heather has stepped in during a difficult time and has shown tremendous leadership in providing stability to the softball program," Dr. Perry said. "The student-athletes have responded well to Heather's broad vision for the program and her communication style"
Tarter joins the IUPUI staff following a three-year stint as the head coach for NAIA Purdue Calumet. While there, Tarter was responsible for not only coaching, but starting the program from scratch. The Peregrines saw their inaugural season kick off in 2014, as Tarter and her program came flying out of the gates, compiling a 28-8 overall record.
"Heather's coaching philosophy aligns with the core values of the athletics department, and her past successes as a collegiate head coach makes her the ideal person to lead the softball program during the 2016-17 academic year," Dr. Perry continued.
Over three seasons, Tarter went a combined 75-60, while also going 5-3 against top-25 ranked opponents. In addition, Tarter led her squad to a 2-1 defeat of Purdue during the 2013 fall season. For her efforts, Tarter saw seven PUC players named All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAC) selections in 2015 and 2016, including three All-Tournament selections and two NAIA Scholar-Athlete selections.
Prior to PUC, Tarter spent four seasons as a top assistant at the national powerhouse Parkland College of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA). While there, Tarter helped the Cobras to 168 wins across four seasons, including three-consecutive NJCAA Region 24 titles and a pair of NJCAA National Tournament appearances. A key piece in the recruitment efforts for the Cobras, Tarter saw five players earn NJCAA All-American selections, in addition to 15 All-Region selections and 23 All-Conference selections.
Tarter played collegiately at Kankakee Community College before transferring to Northern Iowa for her junior and senior seasons. A standout catcher at KCC, Tarter was an All-Region performer, and helped lead the Cavaliers to a pair of NJCAA Regional titles, in addition to a fifth-place finish at the 2006 NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
Last season, the Jaguars went 20-35 overall with a 4-12 finish in Summit League play. The Jags shocked the opposition in the Summit League Tournament, putting on an impressive offensive outpouring en route to advancing to their first-ever Championship game. IUPUI landed four players on the All-Tournament team, while three players earned All-Summit League selections.
