Deters is a successful high school coach on the local scene and is a valuable asset who brings wealth of experience to the Ashford University softball program. He enters his fourth season as an assistant coach to contribute to the Saints' program.

A 32-year veteran of high school coaching, Deters most recently served as head coach of Camanche High School for the previous 28 seasons. Before that he served as three seasons as head coach of Manning High School and one year at Mormon Trail High School.

Deters has a daughter, Nicole, and a son, Nate. He currently resides in Camanche, Iowa.

Karenmarie Peña
Assistant Coach

Peña begins her third year as a member of the Ashford coaching staff this spring. She assists in all facets of the team, specializing with an emphasis in pitching.

Peña starred at nearby Rock Island Alleman High School where she was a three-time Illinois High School all-state selection (1997, 1999-00). She currently is tied for the state record for the most strikeouts in a single game (38 in 22 innings vs. East Moline H.S.) and carried an astounding 0.17 earned run average her junior year.

Peña then went on to begin her collegiate career in Gainesville, Fla., at Santa Fe Community College before transferring after two years to Div. I Western Illinois University. She was a second-team all-conference honoree as a freshman and voted team MVP at Santa Fe before collecting first-team recognition as a sophomore.

With the Leathernecks in Macomb, Ill., Peña played under Head Coach Kathy Veroni, one of the winningest coaches in college softball history with 869 career victories.

Peña coached for two years (2008-09) at Davenport Central High School as an assistant junior varsity softball coach prior to coming on board at Ashford.

She acquired her Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois in 2006. Peña currently resides in East Moline, Ill.

The Peña File

• Assistant Junior Varsity Softball Coach - Davenport North High School (2008-09)
• Graduate Assistant Softball Coach - Ashford University (2009-2011)
  
• Assistant Softball Coach - Ashford University (2011-present)
  

Heather Monroe
Grad Assistant

Coming to Ashford by way of New Braunfels, Texas, Monroe is the latest addition to the Saints' softball coaching staff.

A former infielder at St. Mary's University, Monroe brings a wealth of experience from her playing career to help Head Coach Kevin Jannusch and the day-to-day operations of the program.

Monroe was a former understudy to Jannusch when she played for the Hearts of Texas organization. She then followed his path in coaching by serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the same Hearts of Texas squad from 2004-08.

Monroe was a four-year letterwinner while splitting time at third base and shortstop at the collegiate level and she earned Academic All-American honors in her junior and senior years.

Monroe graduated from St. Mary's with her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science in the spring of 2010. She currently resides in Clinton and will obtain her Master's in Education with a focus on Child Development.

The Monroe File

•     Volunteer Softball Coach - Hearts of Texas Softball Club (2004-08)
•     Graduate Assistant Softball Coach - Ashford University (2011-Present)