Hillary Johnson
Assistant Softball Pitching Coach
Hillary Johnson has been a key member of the coaching staff and serves as the pitching coach since 2014. In 2019, Johnson’s pitching staff finished 4th in the conference with an overall ERA of 2.62 and recorded 37 wins, tossing 397.2 innings. Batting average against the Huskies pitchers was a low 2.57. Following the 2019 season the Huskies pitching staff finished in the Top 5 in the conference in several categories: batting average against, number of runners allowed, slugging percentage against, hits allowed, on-base percentage, runs batted in, home runs, total bases, walks, hit by pitch, strikeouts, sac bunts allowed, sac flies allowed, batters strike out, and batters strike out looking.
Johnson has an impressive resume as both a head coach and assistant coach. Johnson had been with the Burnsville High School program since 1999. From 1999 to 2005, Coach Johnson served as an assistant coach under legendary coach Pat Feely, with the team earning five conference championships, two section championships and two state championships.
In 2006, Johnson took over the reins as head coach and served in that capacity through the spring of 2012. During her tenure as head coach, coach Johnson’s teams had an impressive record of 140-31, earning conference championships in 2007, 2009 and 2011, a section championship in 2010, and a state championship in 2010. Johnson was named both the Section Coach of the Year and the Minnesota State High School Coach of the Year in 2010.
Additionally, Johnson coached two Metro Players of the Year, one Gatorade State Player of the Year, one Ms. Softball award winner, 17 All-State players, 12 All-Star Game Participants, and three Academic All-State Players. She has served on the softball advisory committee to the MSHSL, as the Section 3AAA Representative to the Softball Coaches Association, as the Coaches Association Treasurer, and as the Girls Coaches Representative to the MSHSL Region 3AA Committee. Coach Johnson has also previously served as an assistant coach with Burnsville High School’s volleyball program.
Johnson played collegiate at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a major in Economics. She received her master's at the University of Minnesota in Math Education.
Morgan Emmans
Graduate Assistant Coach
Morgan Emmans joins the Huskies after an impressive career as a Husky (2016-2019). Morgan played both 3base and catcher for the Huskies during her 4-seasons.
2019: In her final season, Emmans appeared and started in all 61 games as the starting catcher for the Huskies. She earned NSIC Gold Glove honors for her play behind the plate, as she did not commit a single error against conference opponents and was 4-9 on stolen base attemps in NSIC play. At the plate, Emmans concluded the season with a .272 batting average and led the team in runs (54) and home runs (13). She a walk off home run to help St. Cloud State beat Sioux Falls 4-3 in the final at bat of her career at Selke Field.
2018: As a junior, Emmans earned Second Team All-Conference honors after a breakout season, both behind and at the plate. As the team's starting catcher, Emmans played all 51 games for St. Cloud State and led the team in home runs (11), doubles (19), runs (42), RBI (59) and slugging percentage (.684) during the regular season. The junior also finished second on the team in batting average, as she tallied 54 hits in 155 at bats for a .348 overall batting average prior to the NSIC tournament. Emmans numbers were equally impressive amongst the NSIC, as she ranked second overall in RBI (59) in the conference and ranked in the top-5 in doubles doubles (third) and home runs (fourth) at the end of the regular season. Her numbers were even better in conference play. In 30 conference games, Emmans tallied a team-leading .363 batting average with 33 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs, 29 RBI and 23 runs. In addition to batting average, the junior catcher led the team in hits, doubles, home runs and runs versus NSIC opponents and ranked in the top-10 in the conference in doubles (third) and RBI (seventh).
2017: One of six players on the team that played and started all 55 games...hit .275 with 26 runs, 42 hits, eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 31 RBIs, 69 total bases, 21 walks and seven stolen bases....tied for sixth in the NSIC in walks...had six multi-Hit games and seven multi-RBI games...knocked in three runs against Black Hills State (2/3) and Northwood (3/11)...tallied four RBIs against Minnesota Duluth (3/19)
2016: Played in 30 games with 13 starts…hit .295 with six runs, 13 hits, three doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBIs, 21 total bases, .477 slugging percentage and two sacrifice flies…hit a home run against Fort Hays State (2/20)…drove in four runs against LeMoyne College (3/8)
“Morgan was an exceptional leader for our program and was named 2x captains by her coaches and teammates. I expect her to be able to transition those same skills over into the coaching profession as she continues her education at St. Cloud State graduate school. She brings a great deal of passion and enthusiasm to the game and will be great mentor and resource for the current players on the team.” Coach U’Ren.
Haley Covais
Assistant Coach
Haley returns as an assistant coach for her 2nd season with the Huskies in 2019-2020 season. Her primary coaching duties including: offensive hitting, instructions with the catchers and infielders. She also served as the team’s academic advisor again this upcoming season.
Offensively, the Huskies had a break-out season last year setting new team records in stolen bases, rbi’s and stolen bases. In the NSIC, the Huskies hold a top 10 rank in several offensive categories: : runs, hits, RBI’s, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, stolen bases. Additionally, catcher Morgan Emmans received the NSIC Gold Glove award for the conference as the league’s top catcher for her play in the 2019 season.
In the summer, Haley coach’s the Sioux Falls Steel program who is considered one of the premier 18-under programs in the region with every player on the roster committed to a DI/DII program.
"Haley will be a great addition to our coaching staff," U'Ren said in a recent statement. "She has experience in the NSIC as both a student-athlete and an assistant coach. Haley has a true passion for teaching the game and a great work ethic. I look forward to everything that she will bring to our Husky softball program."
Covais earned her degree in biology from Sioux Falls and is currently pursuing her master's in sports administration.