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Stetson University

Stetson University Athletics
421 N. Woodland Blvd. - Unit 8378 DeLand, FL 32723
Division 1 Florida Southeast
Private Small National competitor

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Shellie Robinson

Former NCAA All-American, two-time ASUN Player of the Year and National Pro Fastpitch star Shellie Robinson was named the seventh head coach in Stetson University softball history on Monday, July 26, 2021 and enters her second season leading the Hatters during the 2023 season.


The third youngest head coach in Division I during the 2022 season, Robinson, 28, poured her passion and energy into guiding her hometown team during her first season as head coach, after serving the past two seasons (2020-21) as an assistant coach to Frank Griffin, who retired in May 2921 following a 25-year career with the Hatters.


Robinson won her first collegiate game as Stetson's head coach on Feb. 11, 2022 with an 8-2 victory over Georgia State - one of four Stetson softball head coaches to with their coaching debut. Her impact at the helm was felt all year, as the team improved overall from the previous season. The 21 wins in 2022 was 13 more than the year prior, while Stetson also won more road games (5) and league games (10) than in 2021 as well (2, 3). The last time the Hatters won more than 20 games in a season was 2018 (26), more than five road games was 2014 (11) and more than 10 ASUN games was 2014 (17).


There was an increase in wins in 2022, but it did not come at the expense of shying away from tough competition as Robinson scheduled the Hatters to face five ranked teams in 2022, the second most ever in a single season (1999), and the three contests against top 10 teams tied for the most (1998).


The 2022 Hatters also started the ASUN season strong, winning their first two league series for the first time since 2015 and registered its first three-game sweep of a league opponent - over Florida Gulf Coast April 9-10, 2022 - since 2015 as well, April 18-19, 2015 versus Northern Kentucky. Stetson then finished the regular season with a 7-6 come-back win at Liberty on May 6, handing the Flames (the ASUN regular-season and tournament champions) their lone conference loss of the year.


During a decorated four-year collegiate career at USC Upstate, Robinson set Division I school records in numerous categories, including batting average (.389), runs (218), hits (264), doubles (54), home runs (70), RBI (198), on-base percentage (.465), and slugging pct. (.805).


The catcher/outfielder was named ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2012, ASUN Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015, a first team All-Region performer in 2012 and 2014, a second team All-Region selection in 2013 and 2015, and a third team NFCA All-American in 2014.


She set the conference all-time record with 218 runs scored and ranked among the top 10 all-time ASUN leaders in hits, doubles, home runs and RBI. She slugged 23 home runs as a senior en route her fourth straight first team ASUN all-conference selection, and she helped USC Upstate reach the NCAA Tournament in 2013, 2014, and 2015.


Following her career with the Spartans, Robinson was drafted 23rd overall by Akron in the 2015 National Pro Fastpitch draft. She played three seasons for the Racers, earning all-NPF team honors in 2017. She ranked among the league leaders in runs, hits, home runs, RBI, batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and stolen bases that season while helping Akron reach the NPF Championship series.


In 2018, Robinson hit seven home runs with the Cleveland Comets, bring her career total to 24.


In addition to playing professionally, Robinson served as an assistant coach for North Greenville University from 2015-18. She assisted with all facets of the softball program, including recruiting, scheduling, budgeting, team travel, academics, and on-field coaching. She helped guide the Crusaders to their first conference championship in school history in 2017.


Robinson moved up to the Division I coaching ranks in 2018 when she served as an assistant coach at Furman University, again helping administer numerous areas of the Paladins’ softball program.


At DeLand High School, Robinson garnered a myriad of career accomplishments, including FHSAA 6A Offensive Player of the Year, Orlando Sentinel Central Florida Player of the Year, BrightHouse Networks Player of the Year, Daytona Beach News-Journal Athlete of the Year and a two-time Volusia County Player of the Year.


Robinson earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from USC Upstate in 2015. In 2017, she completed her MBA from North Greenville.

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Elizabeth Jackson

Former Hatter standout Elizabeth Jackson enters her second season as an assistant softball coach at Stetson University. She works with the outfielders and slappers.


A three-year letterwinner for the Hatters from 2019-21, Jackson finished her career with the seventh-highest batting average (.335) and sixth-highest on-base percentage (.420) in school history. As a super senior in 2021, Jackson batted .330 overall and .409 in ASUN play, marking the second-highest total in the league. She collected 30 hits, 19 stolen bases, and posted a team-leading .430 on-base percentage. She also played error-free ball the entire season in left field.


Jackson missed the COVID-shortened 2020 season due to injury but was named to the ASUN preseason all-conference team following a stellar 2019 campaign. That year, Jackson batted .338 with 50 hits and a team-high .413 on-base percentage. She stole 16 bases and reached base safely in 37 of 47 games. She registered back-to-back walk-off hits against North Alabama and Bethune-Cookman.


Jackson began her collegiate career as a golfer at Daytona State where she was a part of two NJCAA National Championship teams. She switched sports shortly after transferring to Stetson in 2018.


A standout two-sport performer at Bloomingdale High School, Jackson led her softball team to the FHSAA 8A state title as a junior, leading the Bulls in hits and runs. The Valrico, Fla. native passed up an offer to play softball at the University of Arkansas to focus on golf.


A three-time ASUN Honor Roll member, Jackson completed her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Stetson in 2020 and is currently pursuing an MBA. She also earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Daytona State in 2018.

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Garrett Nickel

Garrett Nickel enters his second season as an assistant softball coach at Stetson University. He serves as the program's pitching coach.


Nickel came to Stetson after serving two years on staff with the Arizona State University softball program. While with the Sun Devils, Nickel helped plan team travel, tournaments and other logistical items. He worked with the ASU and NCAA compliance offices and helped prepare film and team scouting reports.


In 2021, Nickel served as a facilitator for the Athletes Unlimited softball league in Rosemont, Ill. He worked directly with the country's top softball athletes to put together lineups and game strategies. He also served as a pitching coach and mental performance coach.


Nickel is a member of Team USA Softball and competed for the 2018 Junior Men's Fastpitch National Team, where he participated in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Men's World Championship. He also founded Explosion Club Softball in Phoenix, Ariz., a non-profit organization for competitive youth softball.


A native of Clarksville, Tenn., Nickel graduated with highest honors from Northeast High School, where he competed on the baseball team. He later earned his Bachelor's Degree in Community Sports Business and Management from Arizona State in 2021.


He has three younger sisters and enjoys traveling and hiking.

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