Coaches

Tiffany Ozbun

Tiffany Ozbun returns for her 17th season as the Head Softball Coach at Denison University in 2024. Ozbun is the program's all-time leader in victories with a career record of 347-244.


A two-time North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Ozbun guided Denison to at least 20 wins in each of her first 12 seasons as head coach. Since her arrival in 2008, she has led DU to three NCAC regular-season titles, three NCAC Tournament Championships and two NCAA Division III Regional Tournament appearances. One of the most respected coaches in the game, Ozbun has coached 75 student-athletes to all-conference accolades and 21 have gone on to earn all-region honors. She is the active leader in coaching victories in the NCAC.


The Big Red's most recent 20-win campaign came in 2019 when DU went 22-14 and advanced to the championship game of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament for the third-straight season. In 2018, Denison posted a record of 26-10 and finished as the runner-up at the 2018 NCAC Tournament. Secaras was named the NCAC Player of the Year after leaving DU as the NCAC's all-time leader in RBIs (143) and total bases (329). Secaras was also joined by Amanda Howell on the NFCA all-region team. The 2017 season was a similar story as the Big Red finished 29-16, advancing to the NCAC Tournament championship game where they forced a decisive game seven. Laura Bagan and Lauren Secaras were named to the NFCA all-region team.


In 2012, the Big Red became the first team in NCAC Tournament history to capture the title as the No. 4 seed. In addition, DU had four players earn all-conference honors, and five landed on the All-NCAC Tournament team. Senior Hannah Price headlined the list of accolades after being named first-team All-NCAC, NCAC Tournament MVP and second-team all-region. The 2011 season saw Ozbun match her career-high with 30 victories. The Big Red posted a 12-2 record in conference play. Denison hosted the conference softball tournament for a record eighth time after winning the NCAC regular-season championship.


The 2010 season saw her team mount an impressive charge out of the losers bracket to win the 2010 NCAC Tournament Championship on their home field. The comeback secured Ozbun and the Big Red their second NCAA Tournament bid and the fifth in program history. The 2010 team would go on to set 11 offensive team records, highlighted by record-setting totals in RBIs (250), runs scored (276), home runs (33) and doubles (94).


Prior to her arrival at Denison, Ozbun spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Manchester College where she was responsible for pitcher/catcher development and the team's strength and conditioning program. She aided in the development of numerous all-conference and all-region athletes and in the Fall of 2005, stepped in as the interim head coach/senior women's administrator at Manchester. Ozbun also served as an instructor in the Exercise and Sport Science department.


Prior to returning to Manchester, Ozbun spent three seasons at the University of Louisville where she earned a master of science in sport administration. While at Louisville, Ozbun worked primarily with catchers and defense while assisting in the development of numerous all-region and all-conference players, including the Cardinals' first All-American. In 2004, Louisville earned the program's first NCAA Tournament bid. That year, the Cardinals also set a Conference USA record for wins in a season (41).


As a player, Ozbun was a four-year letter winner and three-year co-captain for the Spartans. She led Manchester to the 2001 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship and was named the team's most valuable player. She was the recipient of Manchester's Betty Clark Memorial award for her outstanding scholarship, athletic achievement, leadership and service, and was a member of the Manchester Directors Council and the Manchester Faculty Athletic Committee.


Since 2002 Ozbun has served as the director of the University of Louisville Softball Camps and has spent her summers working various national camps and clinics. A member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) since 2003, Ozbun is also active in the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association (OHSFSCA).


Ozbun also serves as an associate professor in Denison's department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Studies (HESS).