Former Nova Southeastern star outfielder Dana Edmundson enters her first season with the program after officially being announced as the new assistant coach on Aug. 27, 2021.
A two-time, First Team All-Sunshine State Conference selection as a player from 2017-18, Edmundson reunites with her former head coach Julie LeMaire as the newest member of the staff.
“Being able to come back to NSU and be a part of the softball program again, this time as the assistant coach, is a full-circle moment for me,” Edmundson expressed. “I truly enjoyed my experience here as a student-athlete for so many reasons, but a lot of it had to do with the way Coach LeMaire ran the program, and how dedicated and passionate she was about it.”
Edmundson’s impact as a player in her two short seasons with the Sharks was one that very few leave in four full years within the program. From 2017-18, the Panama City, Fla. native started all 101 games for NSU, posting a career batting average of .361 to go along with a combined 14 home runs, 56 RBI, 67 runs scored and 43 stolen bases. In both seasons, Edmundson led the team in numerous statistical categories including: batting average, hits, home runs, RBI, runs scored, slugging and on-base percentage. Of those categories, she ranks among the Top-10 in program history in home runs, batting average, slugging percentage and stolen bases.
Still, despite the gaudy numbers, Edmundson admits that her time at NSU meant much more than records and accolades.
“We had the best player/coach relationship,” Edmundson said when referring to LeMaire. “She really pushed me to be the best player because she had never-ending confidence in me and my game. It made a difference in how I played the game, how I viewed it, and even how I viewed myself. The confidence she had in me made me a better player on the field, and a better person in life. So, to be here and have the opportunity to impact young females’ lives the same way she did, and continues to do, is a dream for me and I could not be more grateful and excited to see what the future holds!”
LeMaire’s praise for Edmundson was equally reciprocated.
“As you can imagine, I’m extremely excited to bring Dana back into our program as the new assistant coach,” LeMaire beamed. “As a player, Dana had a true winner’s mentality. Even when she was leading the team in every offensive category, she was the first person to put in more time at the field. She left everything she had on the field every single day, and inspired those in the program through her hard work and motivation to become better each day. Her competitive spirit, passion, and dedication to the NSU Softball Family is contagious!
“To have the ability to bring back an alumna that played such an instrumental part in getting us to where we were as a team pre-covid is such a benefit to the young women she will now help coach and impact here,” LeMaire continued. “Dana has lived the life of a student-athlete at NSU, in this program, and for me in particular; to have her in this role is an exceptional advantage for our athletes. So few get the opportunity to give back to the place they called home and loved as a student-athlete, and I’m so excited to be a part of Dana’s return and coaching journey! I look forward to continuing to build NSU Softball into a championship program with her!”
