Coaching Staff

Tech Fieldhouse
bnorris@indianatech.edu
(260) 422-5561 x2280
(260) 615-5238 cell

Head Coach Becky Norris is in her fourth season with Indiana Tech. Previously, she spent a one year stint as an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN (NCAA Div-I) where the team achieved a thirty-one game winning season finishing third in the Sun Belt Conference and second in the conference tournament. Earlier she was an assistant coach for four years at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL (NCAA Div-I); some of her responsibilities included recruiting, running camps, clinics and coaching the bases.

During those years she enjoyed having several of her catcher's drills published in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's monthly periodical. Also, she aided seventeen all conference players and one all region selection at the division one level. Prior to coaching full time, Norris ran Dot Richardson's Fastpitch Training Center while assisting at Rollins College, Winter Park, FL (NCAA Div-II). At the center her duties included financial and operational matters as well as being a private training technician for pitching, hitting, catching, and fielding. She supplemented those efforts by writing instructional articles in Dot's fan club news letter and by managing Dot's Diamonds Junior Olympic eighteen and under travel team. Several years earlier Norris had begun assisting Olympians Richardson and Lisa Fernandez at many of their camps and clinics.

Originally from St. Louis, MO, Norris was the assistant softball coach at Maryville University, Town and Country, MO (NCAA Div-III) for two years when Maryville claimed the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 1997 title. During this period she co-owned and operated an indoor softball and baseball training center and specialty sporting goods store. As a result of many requests from the parents of young players with whom she gave private lessons, Norris successfully met another challenge: She founded, administered, and coached the St. Louis Quest Softball Club which developed into a total of five teams for athletes at all age levels 14 and above, and then she played too.

Additionally, Norris taught English and coached softball at Ursuline Academy and coached field hockey at Cor Jesu Academy; both institutions are St. Louis area high schools. One of her high school athletes became a two-time, NCAA Division II, National Most Valuable Player and also starred on her talented St. Louis Quest women's team. Norris was a two-sport dual scholarship athlete in softball and field hockey at Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY (NCAA Div-II). Her unyielding passion for fastpitch competition resulted in her playing every position on the diamond, although, she gained more experience at shortstop, third base and catcher. Nonetheless, one of her fond memories is the two complete games she pitched at the collegiate level.

A 1989 Lutheran High School South graduate, Norris was a four-year starting shortstop for this perennial St. Louis softball power. She received a BA in English from Bellarmine in 1993 and an MA in teaching from Webster University in 1995. Also, Norris received the second highest certification, a Four Star Master Coach, in 2004 from the National Fastpitch Coaches' College, which is the educational unit of the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association. Coach Norris recently completed a MS in Kinesiology with an emphasis in coaching fastpitch.

Lloydene Searle's coaching experience started when she graduated from Weber High School with Female Athlete of the Year and honor roll distinction. On a leadership scholarship to Utah State University Lloydene competed in Volleyball, Basketball and Softball and again upon graduation earned honors such as Female Athlete of the Year while appearing on the deans list at Utah State University. A graduate with a double major, English and Physical Education, Lloydene was signed with the Women's Professional Softball league; she played for the Phoenix Birds (Arizona) and the Bakersfield Aggies (California).

After the professional career, she taught English and physical education while coaching and developing the first ever athletic program at Grace Jr. high and High School. There Lloydene took her teams to the Volleyball and Basketball state finals, and coaching a track & field team that took a couple of female athletes to the national finals. Lloydene spent one year at University of Utah as a graduate assistant before Utah State University asked Lloydene to develop the softball program at the state and conference levels. Lloydene did more than that as she guided her teams to the AIAW National Championship, a final eight showing at the NCAA Championships, the HCAC (high country athletic conference) Championship and the Big West Conference Championships, and national prominence the next 17 years.

Lloydene was then offered a coaching position at Eastern Illinois University which allowed her to develop the softball program to state and conference prominence and departed the winningest softball coach in the history of Eastern Illinois University. Coach Searle has accepted her position at Indiana Tech while she is completing her MBA degree.

Lloydene was asked about her new position at Tech; "I will be filling big shoes of recently departed assistant coach and alum Heather Keller. I will accept the position of Assistant softball coach as I will complete the requirements of the MBA degree program in the accelerated graduate program here at Indiana Tech. I am exited to continue the success and ground work that Head Coach Becky Norris has started. I am looking forward to making a positive impact on Indiana Tech by help make the successful tradition even better."

Reserve Coach, Ed Doell, has been involved with fastpitch softball for the past 10 years. He is actively involved in the summer developing fastpitch players at the Wallen Complex. He has coached in all three of their fastpitch divisions and has won a championship at each level. He has also coached teams in tournaments for the ages of 10-under, 12-under, 14-under, & 16-under. He is committed to teach the game of fastpitch and develop each individual athlete to her full potential. He also coaches a women's fastpitch team and donates his time in organizing the Northeast Women's Fastpitch League of players 18 and older. Coach Doell resides in Fort Wayne with his wife and three children; he works in IT at International Truck & Engine.

Assistant Reserve Coach, Mike Zeedyk, has been involved with fastpitch softball for the past 11 years. He is actively involved in the summer developing fastpitch players at Wallen Complex. He has coached 10 & under, 13 & under and 18 & under fastpitch divisions. He has also been an assistant JV coach at the high school level for two seasons. His experience and love of the game will fit well with our program. Mike resides in Fort Wayne with his wife and children. He is employed as a Sr. Product Cost Engineer at International Truck and Engine Company in Fort Wayne.