POTSDAM – Former SUNY Potsdam Bears standout Jordan Ott, a 2017 Potsdam graduate, will be the college softball team's new head coach. Ott, who will also serve as assistant sports information director, replaces Nicole Yost who departed during the summer for the same position at Berea College in Kentucky.

"After a comprehensive national search, we are thrilled to hire Jordan Ott as our Head Softball Coach and assistant sports information director," said Athletic Director Sharief Hashim. "Jordan's energy and player development philosophy quickly separated her from a group of qualified candidates. Her positive attitude makes Jordan a great addition to our department and will allow her to recruit effectively and establish a team culture that translates to success both on and off the field."

Ott has played a major role in every facet of running the team since the fall of 2017, including recruiting, planning team activities, practices, workouts and prospective athletes' visits to campus, the announcement said.

After spending three seasons playing for Yost and last season as her assistant coach, Ott takes the program's reins for upcoming 2019 campaign. She has played a major role in every facet of running the team since the fall of 2017, including recruiting, planning team activities, practices, workouts and prospective athletes' visits to campus.

In addition to her experience at Potsdam, Ott has served in various positions at the YMCA's Camp Northpoint in the Greater Rochester Area. With the YMCA, she is currently employed as the camp's assistant director, with previous experience as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Specialist, and counselor.

Ott is one of the most honored female athletes in two sports in the history of Bears athletics. On the diamond, the shortstop was named All-SUNYAC three times and National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Division III Northeast All-Region twice. She finished her softball career as the Bears all-time leader in nine statistical categories, including hits, and is second in four others. Ott was named to the Capital One Academic All-District 3 Softball first team for two seasons and was the State University of New York Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete for softball for the 2015-16 academic year.

As a four-year member of the women's ice hockey team, the forward set NCAA-era program records in points (107), goals (61), points-per-game (1.06) and power-play goals (18). She also owns the single-season scoring record for points with 36. As a freshman, Ott was named the USCHO.com Division III National and ECAC West Rookie of the Year. She earned all-conference status each season as well as All-USCHO.com and D3Hockey.com honors as a junior. Last year she became SUNY Potsdam's first professional women's hockey player as a member of the NWHL's Buffalo Beauts.

As Potsdam's ASID, Ott will assist sports information director Dan Bronson in all areas of the department's coverage of the Bears' 19 varsity programs. She has also served as the Bears' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) supervisor since the summer.

Ott is the fourth head coach in Potsdam softball history. Steve Pike ran the team from its inception in 2000 until 2004. Shannon Dillabough coached the Bears from 2005-14 and Yost was at the helm from 2015-18.

Ott, a Hilton, N.Y. native, earned her bachelor's degree in childhood/early childhood education with a specialization in Chemistry from Potsdam in 2017. She will complete her master's degree in education at the college in May 2019.