Heather Tarr Explained

Heather Tarr
Current Title:	Head coach
Current Team:	Washington
Current Conference:	Pac-12 Conference
Birth Date:	5 October 1974
Birth Place:	Kirkland, Washington
Player Years1:	1994–1997
Player Team1:	Washington
Player Years2:	1997–1998
Player Team2:	Tampa Bay FireStix
Player Positions:	Infielder
Coach Years1:	1998
Coach Team1:	Washington (student asst.)
Coach Years2:	1999–2003
Coach Team2:	Pacific (asst.)
Coach Years3:	2004
Coach Team3:	Pacific (AHC)
Coach Years4:	2005–present
Coach Team4:	Washington
Coach Sport5:	National Softball
Coach Years6:	2019–2020
Coach Team6:	Team USA Women's Softball (asst.)
Coach Years7:	2022–Present
Coach Team7:	Team USA Women's Softball
Tournament Record:	NCAA Division I
Championships:	As player: Pac-10 (1996) As head coach: Women's College World Series (2009) 2× Pac-10/12 (2010, 2019)
Awards:	As player: 3× honorable mention All-Pac-10 (1995–1997) Second-team NFCA All-Pacific Region (1997) As assistant coach: NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year (2001) As head coach: Pac-10 Coach of the Year (2010) NFCA Pacific Regional Coaching Staff of the Year (2019)

Heather Robyn Tarr (born October 5, 1974)^[1] is an American, former collegiate softball third baseman, and is the current head coach at Washington. Tarr become one of five coaches/athletes to have played and coached in the Women's College World Series, playing in the 1996 Women's College World Series as well the 1997 Women's College World Series, and coaching the Huskies at the 2009 Women's College World Series. She was the first coach to win a title with her alma mater when the Huskies won the national championship in 2009.^[2] Tarr has also assisted Team USA and helped coach the team at the 2020 Summer Olympics.^[3]

Early life and education

Born in Kirkland, Washington, Tarr graduated from Redmond High School and played at infielder on the Washington Huskies softball team from 1994 to 1997 while attending the University of Washington.^[1] Playing a total of 244 games at Washington,^{[1] [4]} Tarr was an honorable mention all-Pac-10 honoree from 1995 to 1997 and second-team NFCA All-Pacific Region honoree in 1997. As a senior in 1997, Tarr batted .283 with 53 hits and 32 RBI.^[4]

Professional softball career

Tarr played professionally with the Tampa Bay FireStix of the Women's Professional Softball League in 1997 and 1998, playing 64 games with 26 hits and 10 RBI.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Coaching career

College assistant (1998–2004)

In 1998, Tarr was an undergraduate assistant at Washington while completing her geography degree.^[8]

From 1999 to 2004, Tarr was an assistant coach at Pacific under head coach Brian Kolze and was associate head coach during the 2004 season. With Tarr on staff, Pacific went 232–124 and 90–44 mark in the Big West Conference. In 2001, Tarr and Pacific head coach Brian Kolze was named 2001 NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding the Tigers to within one win of the Women's College World Series and finished the year at No. 18 in the final national ranking.^[9]

Washington (2005–present)

After the 2004 season at Pacific as an assistant, Heather Tarr was named head coach of the Washington Huskies softball team. In her first season Heather Tarr led the Huskies to a 35–22 overall record and led them to the NCAA Super Regionals where they lost to eventual national champion Michigan. In 2009, Tarr led Washington 51–12 overall record and won the 2009 Women's College World Series, Washington's first title in program history. She became the first coach to win a title with her alma mater.

^[10] She led the Huskies to a runner-up finish in the 2018 Women's College World Series. Tarr has been a mentor to athletes Danielle Lawrie, Ali Aguilar and Taran Alvelo.

As of the end of the 2021 season, Tarr has an overall 704–260–1 record at Washington.^[11]

Team USA

Tarr was named as an assistant coach for the United States women's softball team in 2019.^[12] On October 25, 2021, Tarr became the head coach for Team USA.^[13]

Statistics

Washington Huskies

YEAR	G	AB	R	H	BA	RBI	HR	3B	2B	TB	SLG	BB	SO	SB	SBA
1994	35	67	10	13	.194	11	0	0	5	18	.268%	9	12	2	2
1995	73	193	35	61	.316	38	0	2	8	73	.378%	18	14	6	6
1996	68	174	34	54	.310	23	3	0	2	65	.373%	21	21	5	6
1997	69	187	31	53	.283	32	1	1	11	69	.369%	32	27	21	25
TOTALS	245	621	110	181	.291	104	4	4	26	225	.362%	80	74	34	39

Head coaching record

Sources:

Notes and References

1. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/19970618110650/http://www.washington.edu/huskysports/sports/softball/players/TarrH.html. June 18, 1997. Heather Tarr. University of Washington. June 6, 2018.
2. Web site: Washington WCWS Stats . Ncaa.org . 2020-07-11.
3. Web site: Husky Softball Records & History . Gohuskies.com . 2020-07-11.
4. http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/WSB/Softball_Women's_Division%20I_1997_756_University%20of%20Washington.pdf
5. Web site: Firestix Slip Past Wahoos, 3–1. Orlando Sentinel. July 2, 1998. June 6, 2018.
6. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20010223090713/http://gohuskies.fansonly.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/120500aaa.html. February 23, 2001. Softball's Kim DePaul Picked Eighth In The Women's Pro Softball League Senior Draft. University of Washington. December 5, 2000. June 6, 2018. dead.
7. Web site: Assistant Coach: Heather Tarr. University of the Pacific. https://web.archive.org/web/20031229003906/http://www.pacifictigers.com/womenssports/softball/Coaching%20Staff.htm. December 29, 2003. June 7, 2018. live.
8. Web site: Heather Tarr Bio . gohuskies.com . University of Washington . 6 June 2018.
9. Web site: Heather Tarr Named Washington Softball Coach. University of Washington. June 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20040815121034/http://gohuskies.collegesports.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/070604aaa.html. August 15, 2004. July 6, 2004. live.
10. Web site: 2009 Washington Softball Schedule . gohuskies.com . University of Washington . 6 June 2018.
11. Web site: NCAA Statistics: Heather Tarr. NCAA. June 6, 2018.
12. Web site: Heather Tarr Named To USA Olympic Coaching Staff . GoHuskies.com . University of Washington Athletics . 1 September 2022.
13. Web site: HEATHER TARR NAMED HEAD COACH FOR THE 2022 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM . https://web.archive.org/web/20211207022241/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/News/2021/October/25/Heather-Tarr-named-2022-WNT-Head-Coach . dead . December 7, 2021 . TeamUSA.org . United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee . 1 September 2022.