Lakeland University Head Softball Coach Kayla Bryant has announced Hannah Nelson and Jordan August as assistant coaches with the Muskies' softball program.

Nelson will move up to a full-time role in the Athletics Department including as a softball assistant after serving as a part-time assistant coach last year. August will join the team in a student assistant capacity in the fall while completing her degree in elementary education and after playing four years for the Muskies.

"I am thrilled to have these two join the softball coaching staff," said Bryant. "Hannah and Jordan are two highly respected, talented ladies with deep knowledge of the game and love for this program."

Nelson will begin her second year coaching with the softball program and will work with the team's outfielders and assist with pitching and hitting. The Loves Park, Ill., native played for the Muskies for four years from 2021-24 as an outfielder and pitcher and had one of the most productive careers in school history, finishing in the top 5 all-time at Lakeland in a host of categories.

A four-year starter, "Nelly" finished her career as a first team all-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference selection. A 4.0 student, she also was named the NACC's female Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior, and at Lakeland she has completed both her bachelor's degree in sport management and leadership and her master's in leadership and organizational development. She also will continue as an assistant in the Athletics Department after serving as the department's graduate assistant last year.

"Hannah is known all around the Lakeland campus in such a positive manner," said Bryant. "She has received numerous awards from the university for academics along with her softball accomplishments. I believe she will be instrumental in guiding the softball program to new heights, bringing the qualities needed for an outstanding assistant coach and being a valuable addition to the athletics department."

August also joins the coaching staff after a very successful four years playing for the Muskies. She also was a four-year starter for the program as a catcher and on the coaching staff will coach the team's catchers while assisting with pitching and hitting.

August this year capped her career as a first team all-NACC selection and throughout her career was regarded as one of the conference's top defensive catchers. An excellent student who is on track to complete her degree in elementary education in December, she also was an NACC Scholar-Athlete Award winner and a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District award winner.

"Jordan is the type of student-athlete that any coach would love to have coached," said Bryant. "I always tell her that I wish I could have coached her all four years, but I truly appreciated the one year I had with her. Her understanding of the game is just like that of a coach when she was a player. That's why I knew I wanted her on my coaching staff."