University of Nebraska at Omaha Women's Softball

Experience Head Softball Coach, Omaha (NCAA Division I - Summit League) - 2021-Present Head Softball Coach, Midland (NAIA) - 2015-21 Head Softball Coach, Marian High School (Omaha, Neb.) - 2013-15 Program Director and Head Coach, Nebraska Fury Fastpitch/Gold - 2007-17 Personal Omaha native Bachelor of Science, Exercise Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Heard's daughter Katie is the head softball coach at Millard South High School and his brother Bill is the head softball coach at Gretna High School At Omaha Hired as the ninth head coach in program history on Aug. 24, 2021 Record of 148-59 (.715) after the 2025 season Omaha softball has won three-consecutive Summit League tournament titles (2023, 2024 and 2025) Omaha has appeared in the Summit League title game in each of Heard's four years Three straight NCAA tournament berths (2023, 2024 and 2025) Omaha has been a three-seed in two of those appearances (2023 and 2025) Since 2022, Omaha has emerged victorious against Autonomous Four institutions (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) 13 times, including NCAA tournament wins The Mavericks have won at least one NCAA tournament game in each of the program's three postseason berths In 2025, the Mavericks earned a share of the Summit League Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history Omaha's 2025 RPI of 46 is the highest in program history The 2025 Mavericks finished the season ranked No. 9 in the D1 Softball Mid-Major Poll, the highest ranking in program history Omaha finished the 2025 season with a team fielding percentage of .981, the third best in the country Named 2024 Summit League Coach of the Year In 2024, Omaha advanced to the Columbia Regional final, falling to the host Mizzou Tigers in the deciding game Heard's team boasted the nation's longest win streak in 2024, emerging victorious in 16 straight contests, mixing in wins over Arizona, Nebraska and Purdue The 2023 Mavericks were the first-ever women's team at Omaha to win a game in the NCAA tournament in the institution's Division I era The 2022 season, Heard's first, saw Omaha post the team's best Division I season at the time, with the most victories since 2014 (32) and 17 league wins (most in DI era) Heard led the Mavericks to four conference series sweeps in 2022 (North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas City and Western Illinois), marking the first time since 2016 Omaha softball completed a series sweep In Heard's tenure, Omaha has collected: 28 All-Summit League honors Back-to-back Summit League Pitchers of the Year Back-to-back Summit League Defensive Players of the Year Omaha has placed two or more players on the NFCA All-Region Teams in three of Heard's four seasons Five Mavericks have earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® honors with one (Sydney Ross) earning a spot on prestigious CSC Academic All-America® Second Team Maggie O'Brien was a finalist for the 2025 CSC Academic All-America® teams 49 Mavericks have been named NFCA Scholar-Athletes since 2022 and the team boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.683 since Heard's arrival In 2023 and 2025, Omaha softball finished with an NFCA/Easton Top 10 GPA in all of Division I with the 2025 team ranking No. 3 (3.787 GPA). Midland Highlights 147-92 record over five seasons Captured three GPAC Regular Season Championships in five seasons - 2018, 2019 and 2021 (2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) 2021 GPAC Tournament Champions Led the Warriors to three NAIA national tournament appearances (2018, 2019 and 2021) Three-time GPAC Coach of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021) Midland student-athletes captured 15 First Team All-Conference and 11 Second Team All-Conference selections with Heard as head coach Two GPAC Player of the Year selections Two GPAC Pitcher of the Year selections Average team GPA of 3.49 over six years Marian High School Highlights Three seasons as Crusaders head coach Won the 2015 NSAA Class A State Championship, the school's first-ever title In 2014, led Marian to the program's first state tournament appearance in eight years, finishing as state runner-up Nebraska Fury/Gold Highlights Head coach of the Nebraska Fury Fastpitch/Gold travel softball team for 10 seasons Heard's 2015 Nebraska Gold 16U team won the ASA/USA 16U Gold National Championship, becoming the first championship team from the state of Nebraska Nebraska Fury teams have consistently finished in the top 20 of major softball championships since its inception Honors 2024 Summit League Coach of the Year Three-time GPAC Coach of the Year (Midland) - 2018, 2019 and 2021

Experience Assistant Softball Coach, Omaha (NCAA Division I - Summit League) - 2021-Present Assistant Softball Coach, Pittsburg State (NCAA Division II - MIAA) - 2019-21 Graduate Assistant Softball Coach, St. Cloud State (NCAA Division II - NSIC) - 2017-19 Personal From Omaha Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Creighton University (2017) Master of Science, Education Administration - Leadership, St. Cloud State University (2019) Lives in Omaha metro with husband Sam Four-year starter for Creighton softball At Omaha Joined Mike Heard's staff on Sept. 20, 2021 Has guided Omaha softball to three straight Summit League tournament titles and NCAA Championship appearances Omaha softball has won at least one NCAA tournament game in each of the program's three trips (2023, 2024, 2025) The 2024-25 Mavericks won the Summit League Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history Omaha has appeared in the conference title game in all four of Daro's seasons on-staff Mavericks have earned 28 All-Summit League honors with Daro on staff, including two Summit League Pitchers of the Year (Maddia Groff and Kamryn Meyer) and two Summit League Defensive Players of the Year (Maggie O'Brien and Lynsey Tucker) Eight Mavericks have earned NFCA All-Region Honors in Daro's time as a Maverick In 2024, Omaha advanced to the NCAA tournament Columbia Regional final, falling to the host Tigers by a single run in nine innings Omaha's 53 home runs in 2025 tied the mark for fifth-best all-time in program history Pittsburg State Highlights Developed pitchers to a nearly one-point ERA improvement from 2020-21 Assisted hitters to a batting average of .269 in 2021, up from a mark of .234 in her first season Coached three All-MIAA Student-Athletes Responsible for scouting reports and team operations St. Cloud State Highlights Assisted the team to a 35-win season and top 10 regional ranking in 2018 In her second season at SCSU, the Huskies won 43 games en route to an NCAA tournament berth Served as infield coach, with the St. Cloud State defense boasting a .967 fielding percentage in 2019 SCSU pitchers posted a sub-three staff ERA and at the plate, the Huskies averaged .328 at the plate (2019) Coached five All-NSIC student-athletes, two NSIC Golden Glove players, two NFCA All-Region honorees and one CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District student-athlete Playing Career Four-year starter for Creighton Played first base, third base and pitched for the Bluejays Earned four Academic All-BIG EAST awards Two-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll member

Bryce Hartman is in his second season as an assistant coach for the Maverick swim and dive programs. He has served as the team’s sprint coach since arriving in Omaha in 2021. In 2021-22 - the first-ever season of the men’s program at Omaha - the Mavericks fielded an inaugural roster of 24 student-athletes and quickly established program records in the full range of events. The men posted a record of 5-2 in dual meet competition, including a 2-1 record versus Summit League opponents. Omaha added a first-place team performance at the Rochester Invitational, where the men recorded 64% lifetime-bests in the pool, capped off by an NCAA ‘B’ cut. Omaha’s women’s program posted their best dual meet record of the Division I era during the 2021-22 season, going 2-1 in Summit League competition and 5-4 overall. Their winning team performance at the Rochester Invitational was highlighted by four program records. Additionally, the women and men each achieved CSCAA Scholar All-American honors both semesters. The women’s team posted an impressive spring GPA of 3.775 to rank third nationally out of all Division I programs. Hartman’s sprint group achieved unprecedented success in his first season in Omaha. At the 2022 Summit League Championships, Omaha sprinters took home gold in 6 events: women’s 100 fly; men’s 100 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, and 100 free; and a first-ever relay title in the men’s 200 medley. Prior to this banner year, the team had achieved just one individual Summit League title since the Division I era began in 2012. The Maverick sprint ladies notched program records and runner-up performances in 100 back, the 200 medley, and the 400 medley relays, with a third place finish in 100 breast. The men sprinters earned silver in 100 IM and the 400 medley relay, plus a bronze in 50 free. Out of six teams at the championships, Omaha finished fourth overall on the men’s side and third overall on the women’s side, which was a one-spot improvement from 2021. From 2017-2020, Hartman served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Barton College. The programs at Barton had just started the season before Hartman’s arrival. Within three seasons, Barton doubled its roster sizes, won three Conference Carolinas team titles, and punched their ticket to the Division II NCAA Championships. His student-athletes’ accolades included over 100 program record-breaking swims, an All-American nod in 2020, consistent CSCAA Scholar All-American recognition, and a CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District honoree in 2019. In Hartman’s time as the team’s sprint coach, Barton’s women’s sprint freestylers dominated, winning 12 conference titles out of 18 opportunities. Just prior to Omaha, Hartman served as a Lead Site Coach for Sea Devils Swimming in Fairfax, Virginia. During the 2020-21 season, he also spent time assisting the Division III program at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Hartman got his start in coaching with the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins as a senior coach and assistant head age group coach from 2013-17. He also brings with him six years of experience as head coach at Hidenwood Recreation Association back in his coastal Virginia hometown. As a former student-athlete, Hartman competed for Georgetown University. He was part of the Hoyas’ 2013 Big East Conference Championships team and achieved all-time program top-10 marks in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.

Eric Sprague is in his second stint and seventh overall year with the Omaha swimming & diving program. Sprague joined the Mavericks again in 2015-16 to serve as the diving coach, having previously occupied the role in 2012-13.   In Sprague’s tenure, the Mavericks have totaled six NCAA Zone Diving qualifiers, four All-Summit selections and seven Summit League Diver of the Week honorees.   In 2019-20, Sprague coached Kady Eller to become the first Maverick diver in DI era to reach the semifinals at a large fall invite, placing 23rd overall at the Phil Hansell Invite in Houston. Sprague also helped Eller and Reece Cooper reach the finals at the Summit League Championships.   In 2018-19, Sprague helped Annika Clinton and Maddy Taylor qualify for NCAA Zone D Diving Championships. Clinton was a CSCAA Academic All-American and named Summit League Diver of the Week three times on the year. Sprague led the only diving group in the conference to place three divers in the championship final of the 3-meter and 1-meter dives.   The 2017-18 Summit League Women’s Diving Coach of the Year led the trio of Andrea Brosnahan, Monica Houck and Clinton to qualify for the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships in 2017-18. Clinton and Houck clinched All-Summit recognition with top-three finishes while Clinton was named Academic All-Summit and Houck garnered Summit League Women’s Diver of the Year honors.   In 2016-17, Brosnahan was Omaha’s First NCAA Zones qualifier and picked up all-league recognition, and two Maverick divers made finals appearances at the league championships. Sprague’s first season, 2012-13, saw Miranda Knipfer place third in the 1-meter event as Omaha’s first Division I conference diving medalist.   Previously, Sprague was the head swimming & diving coach at Bellevue East from 2010 to 2012 and the diving coach at BEHS from 2007 to 2010. He produced multiple state and conference diving finalists and medalists, including two Metro Conference champions. Additionally, Sprague worked with the Nebraska Diving Club from 2009 to 2013, guiding multiple regional champions, zone qualifiers and champions and age-group national qualifiers.   Sprague graduated with his associate’s degree in coaching from Iowa Western in 2013. He and his wife, Lesley, have two daughters, Callie and Jessica.