Former ONU All-American Jackie Mangola has been named the head softball coach at Ohio Northern University, effective July 1. Mangola returns to her alma mater after a 2-year stint as head coach at Hiram, where she guided the Terriers to 21 victories in her time at the helm. She also served as an assistant coach in stops at John Carroll and Muskingum after her graduation from ONU with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 2012.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring home one of our own to lead the next generation of Polar Bear softball student-athletes,"ONU Director of Athletics Tom Simmons said. "Jackie's playing career compliments the leadership she has displayed as a young and rising coach. She won the prestigious OAC Clyde Lamb Award for academic and athletic achievement and has an established passion for the university. It is a great day for ONU softball."

Mangola was a two-time All-American, two-time Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year, a 3-time First Team All-OAC honoree and was Ohio Northern's Clyde Lamb Award winner during her time at ONU. "I am very excited to come home and manage the ONU softball program," Mangola said. "I am very grateful to have the opportunity to return to Ohio Northern and am looking forward to working with our student-athletes."

Mangola is Northern's all-time home run leader with 45 in her career, including a school record 21 in her junior year. She is also second all-time in RBI (179), is third in runs scored (172), is fourth in hits (222), walks (79) and slugging percentage (.735). Her .392 career batting average is seventh-best all-time for the Polar Bears. Mangola is the sixth head coach in the 49-year history of the program.