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Hofstra University Athletics

THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
THE PRIDE OF LONG ISLAND
Meyer and Dent

Softball Brian Bohl

SB: Anderson Adds Two To Coaching Staff

Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra Softball Head Coach Larissa Anderson announced the additions of two assistant coaches to her staff with Julie Meyer and Caitlin Dent joining the Pride.

Meyer will be an assistant coach at Hofstra after serving in a similar capacity for Mississippi for the past three seasons. Dent will begin her collegiate coaching career after four years as a standout softball player for N.C. State.

"I couldn't be more excited to welcome Julie and Caitlin into our Hofstra family,” Anderson said. “Both bring a wealth of experience from some of the best softball conferences in the country. They have a passion and energy for the game that is contagious and a perfect fit for our program. I was very impressed with their knowledge and respect for the history of Hofstra Softball and I look forward to building on that tradition with them.”

Meyer comes to Hofstra after serving as the first base and infield/catchers coach with the Ole Miss program. During her time in Oxford, Mississippi, Meyer was responsible for player development while serving as a liaison with the school's academic support staff. On the field, she focused on defensive skills and developing the program's slap hitters. She also coordinated team travel and organized the Ole Miss softball camps while playing a key role in recruiting.

Meyers' impact on the Rebels was also seen on the defensive side, as the 2013 squad set a program record with a .979 fielding percentage, which was the fifth best nationally despite freshmen starting at both middle infield positions.

Before arriving at Mississippi, Meyer was an assistant at Memphis in 2011, where she coached an infield that recorded 10 or fewer errors at every position and set a school record for the most runners caught stealing. At Memphis, she also was responsible for the program's travel arraignments and was in charge of recruiting in Texas, the west coast and in the northeast.

Meyer started her coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of California, where she played as a first baseman and catcher from 2004-08. At the time of her graduation, she ranked fourth all-time in the program's history with 25 home runs. She slammed a walk-off ninth inning single in the 2008 NCAA Regional Championship game, which sent the Bears to the Super Regional. In 2005, the Bears advanced to the College World Series with Meyer starting every game at first base. She played on three NCAA Regional qualifiers in total.

Meyer graduated from California in 2010 with a degree in sociology. She has worked at various California softball clinics and has volunteered with Special Olympics as an instructor. She was elected as the captain of the Bears in 2007-08 and served as the softball representative to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She was awarded the Donna Terry Scholarship for her outstanding team leadership in 2007.

Dent was a four-year letterwinner at N.C. State from 2010-13, including her final three seasons as a starter. The outfielder earned second-team All Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2013, when she hit .285 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs.

The Boynton Beach, Florida native was clutch in pressure-packed situations, driving in the deciding run in the Wolfpack's 1-0 victory over Florida State in the 2013 ACC championship game. Dent's hit solidified her spot on that season's all-conference tournament team, adding to a postseason in which she smashed a two-run home run to lift N.C. State to a 3-1 win over Virginia Tech that put the Wolfpack into the title game.

After graduating with a degree in sports management in 2013, Dent interned with the Single-A Tampa Yankees in the Florida State League, gaining experience in many facets of the club's operations such as promotions, marketing, ticketing and game-day operations.

Dent also worked as the softball director at Players Edge Baseball Academy in West Boca, Florida where she conducted one-on-one lessons while also running team clinics and practices. She also served as the hitting coach for Park Vista Community High School in 2014.

A two-time N.C. State Scholar Athlete award winner, Dent has volunteered her time working with the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. She is the daughter of Bucky Dent, who was a member of two World Series championship teams with the New York Yankees and was named the 1978 World Series MVP. Her twin brother Cody was a star baseball player at Florida before being drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 22nd round in 2013.

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