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Rosemount Assistant Hired on at DCTC
Heflin to help start softball program at technical school
06/17/05
Eric Helfin is no stranger to the softball circles in Rosemount.
He's been an assistant coach on the Rosemount High School softball team for two years, he coaches AAA softball and the Minnesota Irish softball club.
He is also the owner/manager of the Irish Sports Dome.
Now he will launch a brand new Dakota County Technical College softball team. He will develop its roster and hire coaches for the Rosemount-based, two-year college.
"Basically I'm going to help them start a softball program at the school - put a foundation together for the program," Heflin said. "The first order of business is to try to get enough players together to form a team and then start practices and organization."
The goal is to have a varsity season next spring.
But Helfin isn't looking to be the head coach long term. DCTC and Helfin would like to eventually find a qualified woman to take over coaching duties.
"I think it's important for a woman as a role model for the younger girls," Heflin said. "In the meantime we're going to get the program going for a place to play softball."
Heflin is currently recruiting and answering interested student/athletes' questions.
Students from Inver Hills Community College are eligible to play for the team.
"We're out looking for students in the area that have interest in (DCTC and Inver Hills) and also interested in softball," he said.
"There have been several people from schools that have submitted e-mails of interest," Heflin said.
DCTC has been adding athletics gradually in the past five years. The softball program will join sports such as baseball, men's and women's soccer and wrestling at DCTC.
"I think it's a response to the educational desire out there," Heflin said. "I think a lot more kids are taking a look at tech schools or junior college as an option to a four-year school to get started.
"Not everyone is cut out for (Division I) school right away. There's a lot of kids that come out and go to tech school and they're great players."
The school officially added fastpitch softball in January 2004. The program will be part of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Article Credits:
Andy Rogers is at sportswriter.thisweek@ecm-inc.com. Online Article
