HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University head softball coach Kathryn Gleason announced the hiring of Brittany Duncan, a former standout first baseman/designated player at Valparaiso and Louisville, as an assistant coach for the 2017-18 season.
 
"I would like to thank Coach Gleason and NKU Athletics for the opportunity to be a part of a great program," remarked Duncan. "I am very excited to see what the future holds for NKU softball and am grateful to be a part of the journey."
 
A native of Fairborn, Ohio, Duncan joins the Norse staff after serving as a volunteer coach at her alma mater, with duties including practice planning, drill management, film breakdown, operating camps and facilitating daily operations for Louisville. She also served the Cardinals as a student coach, training Louisville's batters on mechanics and offensive philosophy while also scouting opponents.
 
"I am very excited to welcome Brittany Duncan to Northern Kentucky," added Gleason. "She has a passion for the game, and specifically a passion and great energy for teaching the game. She competed in the Horizon League, so she will bring that familiarity and knowledge with her as we enter our third year in the conference. Brittany has also competed in the postseason, and will bring those experiences to share with our team as well. I am excited that Brittany has chosen to become a part of the Norse softball family and assist us in developing our student-athletes for success on the field, in the classroom and in the community."
 
Duncan is no stranger to the Horizon League, as she was named the League's Newcomer of the Year in 2012 in addition to earning First Team All-League and NFCA All-Midwest Second Team honors as a rookie.  Following her sophomore season, Duncan transferred to Louisville, where she was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team in 2014 and was named an Academic All-American during her senior campaign. Duncan was a force at the plate for both the Crusaders and Cardinals, leading the Horizon League with a .471 batting average and ranking among Valpo's all-time single season top-five in eight different statistical categories before leading Louisville in RBI as a junior.
 
Duncan earned her B.S. in Health and Human Performance from Louisville in 2016, graduating cum laude.