Calvin University Softball

Becky Hilgert heads into her tenth season as head softball coach at Calvin University, where she also serves as Assistant Director of Athletics. In nine years as head coach, she has amassed a 230-102 record that includes four NCAA III Tournament appearances and seven MIAA Team GPA Awards. Her 2024 team set a school record with 34 victories and reached the NCAA III Regional Finals. She coached Brooke Hunderman to 2024 MIAA Pitcher of the Year and reached her 200th collegiate coaching win in 2024. Her 2023 team compiled a 29-11 record with a trip to the MIAA Tournament Championship finals, where she coached Hannah Biddlecome to MIAA MVP and NFCA Division III All-America honors. In 2021, Hilgert led Calvin to an MIAA Tournament title and the NCAA III Regional Tournament semifinals while reaching her 100th collegiate coaching victory. She led the Knights to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years in 2018 with a 32-10 record and NCAA Regional Finals appearance. A native of Bloomington, Minnesota, Hilgert is a University of St. Thomas graduate where she was a four-year starter in the infield. As a senior in 2002, she was team captain and helped lead St. Thomas to the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship and World Series, finishing fifth nationally, earning World Series All-Tournament team honors. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science with a communications minor and earned a Master's degree in recreation and sports sciences from Ohio Unive

Started as an assistant softball coach at Calvin in the fall of 2022. Coached previously in the Diamonds travel organization and at South Christian High School. Graduated from Calvin in 2020 with a degree in Psychology & Pre-Physical Therapy. Earned Masters/Doctorate at Western Michigan University in Physical Therapy in 2022. Appeared in 110 career games at Calvin as a player; served as Captain and attended Gainey Leadership Retreat. Native of Caledonia, Mich., and attended South Christian High School. Currently works fulltime as a physical therapist.

Started as an assistant softball coach at Calvin in spring of 2019. Prior to Calvin coached for Michigan Elite travel organization & Grandville High School Graduated

Lina Avila joined the Calvin University softball coaching staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2024. She came to Calvin from Whitinsville Christian in Northbridge, Massachusetts, where she spent five seasons as the head high school softball coach and three seasons as an assistant coach. At Whitinsville Christian, she also taught middle school math and science, and served two years as assistant principal. Avila played softball at Calvin from 2011-14, starting 135 games and earning three All-MIAA and All-Region honors. She holds the Calvin hitting career records for home runs, RBI, and total bases. She graduated from Calvin with a degree in elementary education with a science minor. A native of Lakewood, California, Avila is a Valley Christian High School (Cerritos) alumna. She currently works full-time as an 8th grade science, Bible, and English teacher at Grand Rapids Christian Middle School.