MHCC ASSISTANT COACH RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Congratulations to Mt. Hood’s own assistant softball coach Taylor Gould for recently being named a 2018 Easton/NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year.

Photo by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

The award honors coaches from the various National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) membership categories for dedication to the sport of softball and “to the continued education, growth and development of young women, both on and off the playing field,” award organizers said.

Gould has been with Mt. Hood the last two years. She spends most of her talent mentoring the outfielders; last year, under her guidance, Makiah Johnson was named a 2018 NFCA All-American.

Head softball coach Brittany Hendrickson told the Advocate, “It’s a huge honor for her to be named a NFCA award winner. That’s national recognition and I think she’s very deserving of that.

“Mostly, after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May, (Gould) hasn’t taken a step away from the program, and her work ethic towards making sure Mt. Hood (softball) is the best that it can be” has amazed Hendrickson and Saints players, she said. “(That is) something that the student athletes look up to and (she provides) a great role model for them.”

When reached before a recent evening softball practice session, Gould shared credit for the award to the entire Saints program, in her usual, easygoing fashion.

“I feel proud to represent Mt. Hood in that aspect,” she said. “I love doing what I do and I’m glad it’s being recognized but it’s really about this (the team), you know. I’m able to be a good coach because I have great co-workers, (an) athletic director, and the school in general – it all added to it (the award).”

Advocate Staff