CANTON, Ohio –Malone University Director of Athletics Tanya Hockman recently announced the appointment of Jeff Hite to the position of Head Softball Coach.
 
Hite is no stranger to the diamond in Stark County, and brings a wealth of head coaching experience with him to Malone.
 
The 7x Federal League Softball Coach of the Year and 2x Federal League Baseball Coach of the Year at North Canton Hoover High School has won over 600 career games at various levels.
 
Hite won a combined nine Federal League championships, six sectional championships, and six district championships on both the softball and baseball field at Hoover. He also led the Lady Vikings to a pair of state softball championships in 1998 and 1999.
 
"Coach Hite has over 25 years of demonstrable success in building and sustaining high school baseball and softball programs," Hockman stated. "He is well known and respected throughout Stark County and Northeast Ohio. His enthusiasm for the sport, and desire to coach and mentor student-athletes in a faith-based environment make him the right person to lead our softball program forward."
 
After retiring from Hoover High School in 2018, Hite went on to coach a local collegiate wood bat summer baseball team, the Stark County Terriers. He led the Terriers to National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series Runner-Up finishes in both 2019 and 2021.
 
"I would like to thank Dr. King, Tanya Hockman, the search committee, and the entire Malone University administration for giving me this opportunity," Hite said. "This is a great opportunity for me. I look forward to competing in the G-MAC, and cannot wait to get started."

A 1982 graduate of Ashland University, Hite has numerous personal accolades that include inductions into: Stark County Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame (2006), Ashland University Athletic Hall of Fame (2006), Tuscarawas County Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame (2018), and the North Canton Hoover High School Athletic Hall of Fame (2021).