University of North Carolina Athletics
Hokanson Joins Tar Heel Staff
July 28, 2011 | Softball
July 28, 2011
Chapel Hill, N.C.--North Carolina head softball coach Donna Papa announced Thursday that Mick Hokanson will be the new hitting coach. Hokanson joins the Tar Heels after serving the last two seasons as an assistant softball coach at Troy University.
"I am very excited to announce that Mick will be joining our softball staff here at Carolina," said Coach Papa. "He brings a solid hitting foundation as well as a strong defensive background to the program. I am confident that he will help us get to another level in both areas. Mick is a great fit for Carolina and embodies many of the values that I was looking for in an assistant - integrity, trust, loyalty. He will bring good energy to the program and understands the traditions of an athletic program like Carolina."
Hokanson has a wealth of experience coaching softball, which includes serving as the head coach at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Wash., from 1998-2001.
Most recently, he was responsible for Troy's outstanding hitting unit. Last year, Troy ranked among the top of the Sun-Belt Conference in team batting average (4th), slugging percentage (3rd), total hits (3rd), total RBI (3rd). The Trojans' offense also led the SBC in doubles (84) and sac flies (15) in 2011.
Before his time at Troy, Hokanson worked as an assistant at the University of Oregon (2005-09) and also served as assistant coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2001-05).
In his four years as a head coach, Hokanson was responsible for establishing the school's first varsity softball program at Big Bend CC and he went on to be named the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) East Region Coach of the Year in 2001 and Co-Coach of the Year in 1999.
Hokanson began his coaching career as an assistant at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Ore. (1991-98). During his time at Western Oregon, he helped coach the Wolves to two appearances in the NAIA regional tournament.
A native of Gresham, Ore., Hokanson earned his bachelor's degree in education from Western Oregon University in 1994. Hokanson was married to Emily Barnes on July 17, 2004. The couple welcomed their first child, son Aiden James (A.J.), on October 30, 2008.
