Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/820011
17 F or former University of Iowa soball stu- dent-athlete and current volunteer assistant coach Megan Blank, being a Hawkeye is a dream come true. Her father grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, and her mother grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and is a two- time graduate of the University of Iowa. So, the Culver City, California, native naturally became a Hawkeye fan, but the transition to coaching was less certain. "When I was a freshman and sophomore, I didn't think coach- ing was something I would be interested in," said Blank. "I didn't feel I had that skill set of putting into words how to make a certain play, especially on defense. But my junior year, I tried to get out of my comfort zone and mentor the underclassmen. My senior year, I started thinking that coaching was something I wanted to do." Blank graduated from Iowa as one of the most decorated players in program history, breaking or tying five school records and finishing in the top 10 in 12 statistical categories. Upon graduation, she continued her soball career for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF). Although her first few days with the new team were nerve-wracking, Blank settled in and contin- ued to play the game she loves. "I walked in the locker room the first day and I saw several other Big Ten girls I knew and played against, and they made me feel welcome right off the bat," said Blank. "e veterans were awesome, too. ose of us who were new just sat back and stared. I was in awe of how good some of these players were. To get the chance to play alongside them and to compete with them was a dream come true." Living the dream of playing professional soball cemented Blank's earlier consideration of coach- ing. "Getting to talk to the other girls on the team and talking about the game has been great," said Blank. "My soball IQ has skyrocketed from playing in the NPF, because you learn about all the different things that differ- ent programs around the country do, and you spitball ideas off each other. We spend almost every day talking about soball." Playing in the NPF opened the door for Blank to be a volunteer assistant coach at Big Ten foe Northwestern, and she jumped at the chance to work with a college program. "It would have been cool to stay at my alma mater right aer graduation, but I was still good friends with a lot of girls on the team," said Blank. "e chance to see another program and to not have that personal connection to the players made the transition easier." Aer a season with Northwestern, her second summer in the NPF, and a season playing overseas, Blank returned to her Hawkeye family as a volun- teer assistant. "To be able to come to practice every day on the field I worked so hard on for four years and put so much of my time and energy into was something I jumped at," said Blank. "To be able to work with infielders and the younger girls that I remember seeing on recruiting trips is awesome. I love being back as a Hawkeye." MAY SCHEDULE May 5-7 Northwestern May 11-13 @ B1G Tournament (Ann Arbor, Mich.)