Vanguard University

Amber Freeman enters her third year as Head Softball Coach at Vanguard University still looking to complete her first full season after all the COVID-19 limitations the past two years. After a standout career with Arizona State University (ASU), Freeman created her own travel ball softball organization and ran her own athletic performance facility in Orange County. The Lakewood, CA, native starred at Mater Dei High School, as well as the prestigious club teams OC Batbusters and Corona Angels, before going on play with the USA National Team and in the National Pro Fastpitch for the USSSA Pride.

"We are excited to welcome Coach Freeman to the Lions family. As a highly respected coach in the softball community, she brings a wealth of knowledge, connections and enthusiasm to the Lions. Her experience at the highest level of competition and her genuine desire to lead student-athletes to reach their full potential spiritually, academically, athletically and socially made her an excellence choice to lead the next era of the Vanguard softball program," remarked Jeff Bussell, Director of Athletics.

Freeman's skills as a catcher made her a steady force behind the Sun Devils' plate from 2012-2015. She was a three-time All-American and 2013 PAC-12 Player of the Year. Freeman ranks fourth in ASU career history with 56 home runs and fifth all-time in career RBI with 197 as well as fifth in ASU history with 46 career doubles. Freeman's 2015 batting average of .436 ranks her fifth in single-season history for those receiving at least 75 at-bats. She became just the third player in ASU history to earn both First-Team All-American and First-Team Academic All-American designations. Throughout her junior and senior seasons, she tallied a .422 batting average in 115 games played and only had one recorded error in over 400 chances. She posted a career slugging percentage of .718 and an on-base percentage of .498.

"I am so excited to be a part of the Vanguard family," Freeman said. "My hope and goal is to maintain the standard of excellence and tradition that has already been established for the Vanguard Softball program. My athletes will not only be great softball players, but great people and students."

In addition to starring on the softball field, Freeman's excellence in the classroom resulted in a 3.6 GPA. She was selected as the 2015 PAC-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year and was recognized twice as an Academic All-American. After her playing career ended, she received her Master of Arts in Elementary Education in 2017, earning a 3.7 GPA while teaching third grade at Conchos Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona.

Freeman also owns and operates A. Freeman Softball and Team Freeman Softball. Her travel ball program features three teams (12u, 14u and 18u), the latter two of which Freeman coaches. Five of her current players have already inked college scholarships at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Lafayette College, Cal State Fullerton, Utah State and Hope International. Freeman also worked at Warehouse Sports Training, a 10,000-square-foot facility where she worked with over 200 athletes per week from the youth to collegiate levels.