Hoerner’s third season at the helm of the program saw an increase in win totals overall and in the ACC, as well as improvements in ERA, hits, doubles, and stolen bases among other categories. Hoerner earned her 500th career head coaching victory on Feb. 27 against Southern Utah in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Hoerner guided senior Courtney Ziese to an All-ACC second team selection, and the 15th consecutive year the Jackets earned an All-ACC honor. Off the field, the team earned the highest team GPA at Georgia Tech for the spring semester (3.30).
In 2015, Hoerner coached the Yellow Jackets to upset victories against No. 20 Nebraska and No. 22 Texas A&M. Maddie Lionberger earned her second career All-Conference honor under Hoerner’s wing when she was named All-ACC Second Team.
In her first season on the Flats, Hoerner led the Yellow Jackets to a 23-24 record and an 11-17 ACC record (8th place). The season’s highlights included series sweeps over conference foes Virginia and Maryland and a series victory against North Carolina on senior weekend. The 2014 club also notched a pair of wins over ranked opponents in Tulsa and Notre Dame.
Under Coach Hoerner’s direction, Tech ranked third in the ACC in batting average (.297) and led the ACC in stolen bases per game (1.38). Meanwhile Georgia Tech pitchers lowered the ERA from 5.37 to 4.21 in her first season. Individually, Hoerner coached two All-ACC performers in Maddie Lionberger (1st team) and Ashley Thomas (2nd team).
Prior to Georgia Tech, Hoerner compiled a record of 254-206 at the College of Charleston, including a 105-72 mark in Southern Conference play. The Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 2007, Hoerner led the Cougars to a record of 37-20 overall, 15-8 in the Southern Conference, last season. Her career record in 14 years overall is 458-326.
During her time at College of Charleston, Hoerner coached the Southern Conference Player of the Year in 2007 and 2009, and the SoCon Pitcher of the Year in 2011. Her Cougar teams were runner-up in the Southern Conference Tournament in 2011 and 2012.
Since 2005, Hoerner has also served as head coach of USA Athletes International, which has played in foreign tours all over Europe.
Prior to working at College of Charleston, Hoerner spent a month in 2005 at NC State, where she served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
From 2000-2005, Hoerner was a successful head coach at Barry University, compiling a cumulative record of 191-82. She led Barry to Sunshine State Conference championships in 2002 and 2003, and she was named the conference’s Coach of the Year both of those seasons. In 2002, she led Barry to a regional title and was selected as the regional Coach of the Year.
Hoerner began her head coaching career at Valdosta State, where she coached one season (2000).
She first embarked on a coaching career as an assistant coach at Barry from 1996-99.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Hoerner was an outstanding player on the collegiate level. In two years at Barry University (1993-94), the Buccaneers won 80 games. An all-conference selection, Hoerner helped Barry advance to the NCAA Division II College Softball World Series, where the Buccaneers finished in fifth place. In her two seasons at Barry, Hoerner struck out just six times in 224 at bats while scoring 41 runs and collecting 30 RBI.
Following the 1994 season she transferred to Canisius in Buffalo, N.Y., where she ranks among the school’s all-time leaders in fielding percentage and stolen bases. In 1995, Hoerner led the Golden Griffins to a 28-14 mark, 11-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, and records of 33-7 and 11-1 in 1996. Canisius won the MAAC title in both years and Hoerner was a two-time all-conference selection.
Hoerner also gained both professional and world experience in 1998 when she signed with Cavigal Nice Sports, a team in Nice, France, during the summer. She played catcher and helped guide the team to a fifth-place finish in the European Championships.
A 1996 graduate of Canisius, Hoerner also holds a Master’s degree from Barry in 2003. Hoerner and husband, Jeff, were married in 1999, and have a daughter, Meeka May.
