New softball head coach has been a part of OTC program for 15 years

Photo by Chad Koenen
Heather Akerman visits with one of the Otter Tail Central Bulldog softball players during Thursday’s regular season opener against New York Mills. After playing for the Bulldogs in high school, Akerman has returned to take over as head coach of the program.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Heather Akerman is stepping into a new role with the same Otter Tail Central softball program she once played for as an athlete. This season Akerman, who has been involved with the program for approximately 15 years, is taking over the head coaching duties for the Bulldogs.  ¶  “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a great bunch of girls and am looking forward to getting to know all of them,” said Akerman.  ¶  In school, Akerman began playing for OTC as an eighth grader and after college she came back as a volunteer assistant varsity coach. The next year she started coaching JV under then head coach Eric Olson. She has held a number of roles with the softball program over the years, but stepped into a bigger role last season due to a coaching shortage. That experience made her realize how much she missed working with the softball program on a more regular basis.