EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's completed staff for the upcoming 2018 season will feature two familiar faces and an All-Big Ten addition in the Wildcats dugout.
2016 graduates Fran Strub and Andrea Filler are returning to the staff in new roles this season, while Chicago native Abby Ramirez joins the #B1GCats after completing her rookie season for the Chicago Bandits of National Professional Fastpitch.
Strub moves from student assistant coach to volunteer assistant coach while Filler will serve as NU's director of softball operations following a stint at graduate manager in 2017. Ramirez is Northwestern's new graduate manager for the 2018 campaign.
Northwestern greatly expanded its staff for the first time in 2017 thanks to a generous donation from Evans [WCAS '70] and Linda Schoeman.
Now entering her sixth season with the program, Strub's exceptional understanding of the Northwestern system will play a large role in the execution of practice, development of the outfielders, base-running and opponent scouting.
Strub is a stellar example of Northwestern's ability to develop student-athletes; she earned her way onto the field and the everyday lineup as a senior in 2016, dominating the Big Ten schedule in her final season of competition.
Filler played professionally in Italy in 2017, one year after winning the 2016 NPF Cowles Cup with the Chicago Bandits alongside Northwestern pitching coach Michelle Gascoigne. She completed her master's degree in sports administration last year and spent 2017 working toward a second master's degree from NU.
A 2014 transfer into the Northwestern program, Filler concluded her career in 2016 ranked third in NU history in doubles (40), fourth in slugging (.693), sixth in batting (.351), seventh in on-base percentage (.433) and RBIs (159), eighth in total bases (316) and ninth in home runs (34) despite playing just three years in Evanston.
Ramirez returns home to Chicago where she was named the 2013 Illinois Gatorade Softball Player of the Year with Trinity High School. She went on to compete for Michigan, earning three NFCA All-Great Lakes Region and All-Big Ten honors, including a 2014 All-Big Ten Defensive Team nod at shortstop.
A stellar infielder, Ramirez signed with the Bandits in May of 2017 and played in 41 games during the season, collecting 26 base hits, driving in 14 and scoring 13 times.