An All-American hitter with 13 years of coaching experience, Amanda Rivera-Eberhart was named assistant softball coach Aug. 16, 2016.
"I am excited to be back in the Big Ten, to work with my good friend Coach DeOliveira and to help build a championship-caliber program here at Purdue," Rivera-Eberhart said. "The Big Ten is a great softball conference, unique in its traditions, and to be a part of it again is a blessing."
Rivera-Eberhart came to Purdue after spending the last four seasons as the head coach at IUPUI, guiding the Jaguars to a 95-108 record and to the Summit League Tournament championship game in 2016. Under her tutelage, Jaguar players earned three NFCA All-Region, 12 All-Summit League, 10 Summit League Player of the Week and eight Summit League All-Tournament accolades. Her charges also garnered six Academic All-Summit League selections. The 2015 team set a school record with 58 home runs, including an individual season record 14 home runs, while ranking among the nation's Top 50 in runs per game (36th, 1.120), stolen bases per game (38th, 1.47) and doubles per game (44th, 1.49).
Prior to taking over the program in Indianapolis, Rivera-Eberhart served as an assistant coach at Indiana and North Carolina State and as a volunteer assistant at Northwestern (twice) and her alma mater Illinois-Chicago.
"Coach Rivera-Eberhart brings a wealth of knowledge both offensively and defensively," head coach Boo DeOliveira said. "She has played and coached at the highest level of collegiate softball and knows what it takes to win. Her energy, passion, and integrity are contagious."
"Amanda is the type of coach you want on your staff and the type of person you want in your corner. She is extremely loyal and greatly respected in the game of softball. She is committed to my vision of excellence for Purdue Softball and will help our team in our pursuit of graduation and championships. I look forward to her helping develop champions, scholars, and citizens."
She was a volunteer assistant at Northwestern for the 2006 and 2007 seasons as well as the 2012 campaign. During Rivera-Eberhart's first stop in Evanston in 2006-07, the Wildcats compiled a 102-28 record with a Big Ten championship, a runner-up finish at the 2006 Women's College World Series and a third-place finish at the 2007 WCWS. Northwestern also set school season records with 85 home runs, 350 runs scored and 326 RBI in 2007. Rivera-Eberhart was part of the 2006 National Coaching Staff of the Year alongside Kate and Caryl Drohan and Toni Nyberg.
Rivera-Eberhart helped guide Garland Cooper to Big Ten Player of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007 and also coached Wildcat standout hitters Tammy Williams and Nicole Pauly to Big Ten Rookie of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Between stints at Northwestern, Rivera-Eberhart's coaching career also included stops at N.C. State (2008) and Indiana (2009-11). She directed all camps and clinics during her time with the Wolfpack and helped the Hoosiers to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2011 -- the program's first since 2006.
Rivera-Eberhart got her start in collegiate coaching as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater Illinois-Chicago, helping the Flames to a 40-27 record in 2005, while also acting as a private hitting instructor in Chicago.
As a player, Rivera-Eberhart earned third team All-America, All-Great Lakes Region first team, Horizon League Player of the Year and Horizon League Tournament MVP honors as a senior after posting a season record 20 home runs (20) and 58 RBI. She set the UIC career standard for home runs (52) and hit by pitch (35), while ranking second in RBIs (193) and walks (125). Rivera-Eberhart was a four-time all-region honoree (2001-04) as a designated player and a four-time All-Summit League honoree, earning first team accolades in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and second team honors in 2003. The Redondo Beach, California, native, was named to the league's All-Newcomer Team in 2001 after lifting 13 home runs and being hit by 21 pitches.
A 2005 graduate of Illinois-Chicago, Rivera-Eberhart earned her degree in movement science.
"I am excited to be back in the Big Ten, to work with my good friend Coach DeOliveira and to help build a championship-caliber program here at Purdue," Rivera-Eberhart said. "The Big Ten is a great softball conference, unique in its traditions, and to be a part of it again is a blessing."
Rivera-Eberhart came to Purdue after spending the last four seasons as the head coach at IUPUI, guiding the Jaguars to a 95-108 record and to the Summit League Tournament championship game in 2016. Under her tutelage, Jaguar players earned three NFCA All-Region, 12 All-Summit League, 10 Summit League Player of the Week and eight Summit League All-Tournament accolades. Her charges also garnered six Academic All-Summit League selections. The 2015 team set a school record with 58 home runs, including an individual season record 14 home runs, while ranking among the nation's Top 50 in runs per game (36th, 1.120), stolen bases per game (38th, 1.47) and doubles per game (44th, 1.49).
Prior to taking over the program in Indianapolis, Rivera-Eberhart served as an assistant coach at Indiana and North Carolina State and as a volunteer assistant at Northwestern (twice) and her alma mater Illinois-Chicago.
"Coach Rivera-Eberhart brings a wealth of knowledge both offensively and defensively," head coach Boo DeOliveira said. "She has played and coached at the highest level of collegiate softball and knows what it takes to win. Her energy, passion, and integrity are contagious."
"Amanda is the type of coach you want on your staff and the type of person you want in your corner. She is extremely loyal and greatly respected in the game of softball. She is committed to my vision of excellence for Purdue Softball and will help our team in our pursuit of graduation and championships. I look forward to her helping develop champions, scholars, and citizens."
She was a volunteer assistant at Northwestern for the 2006 and 2007 seasons as well as the 2012 campaign. During Rivera-Eberhart's first stop in Evanston in 2006-07, the Wildcats compiled a 102-28 record with a Big Ten championship, a runner-up finish at the 2006 Women's College World Series and a third-place finish at the 2007 WCWS. Northwestern also set school season records with 85 home runs, 350 runs scored and 326 RBI in 2007. Rivera-Eberhart was part of the 2006 National Coaching Staff of the Year alongside Kate and Caryl Drohan and Toni Nyberg.
Rivera-Eberhart helped guide Garland Cooper to Big Ten Player of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007 and also coached Wildcat standout hitters Tammy Williams and Nicole Pauly to Big Ten Rookie of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Between stints at Northwestern, Rivera-Eberhart's coaching career also included stops at N.C. State (2008) and Indiana (2009-11). She directed all camps and clinics during her time with the Wolfpack and helped the Hoosiers to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2011 -- the program's first since 2006.
Rivera-Eberhart got her start in collegiate coaching as a volunteer assistant at her alma mater Illinois-Chicago, helping the Flames to a 40-27 record in 2005, while also acting as a private hitting instructor in Chicago.
As a player, Rivera-Eberhart earned third team All-America, All-Great Lakes Region first team, Horizon League Player of the Year and Horizon League Tournament MVP honors as a senior after posting a season record 20 home runs (20) and 58 RBI. She set the UIC career standard for home runs (52) and hit by pitch (35), while ranking second in RBIs (193) and walks (125). Rivera-Eberhart was a four-time all-region honoree (2001-04) as a designated player and a four-time All-Summit League honoree, earning first team accolades in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and second team honors in 2003. The Redondo Beach, California, native, was named to the league's All-Newcomer Team in 2001 after lifting 13 home runs and being hit by 21 pitches.
A 2005 graduate of Illinois-Chicago, Rivera-Eberhart earned her degree in movement science.