University of Minnesota Athletics
Alumna Update: Amber Hegland
7/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Throughout the summer and fall we will be catching up with some of our Golden Gopher alumni. This week we had the pleasure of asking Amber Hegland some questions. She was an All-American in 1996 and an Academic All-American in 1998 for the Gophers. She still holds the program career batting average record. After finishing her softball career she played hockey for one season in the Maroon and Gold Recording 35 points in 36 games. This fall she will be inducted into the ‘M” Club Hall of Fame.
Hegland currently teaches physical education at Wayzata High School. She has been named “Distinguished Teacher of the Year” twice and was a finalist for “Disney Teacher of the Year” once. She currently coaches girl’s hockey at Maple Grove and softball at Wayzata.
Gopher Sports: First off what have you been up to lately?
Amber Hegland: I am coaching a 10U softball team and running a summer hockey training program for Maple Grove which includes: on ice, dryland, shooting and stickhandling and lifting.
GS: What was it like to be recognized in teaching as the “Distinguished Teacher of the Year” twice and also being named a finalist for "Disney Teacher of the Year" once?
AH: Teaching is my passion. I chose to teach physical education and coach because of my love of athletics and what participating gave to me. I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of children. Teaching life lessons through athletics is exciting. It gives me the platform to form connections with student-athletes, help them discover their "brightness" and develop self-confidence.
With regards to the awards, it's humbling and an honor to be recognized but it is not why I teach/coach. I believe every teacher and coach makes connections with student-athletes and positively shapes student-athletes and could be recognized with these awards. I am surrounded by many great teachers and coaches daily that inspire me and helped shaped me into the teacher/coach that I am. These individuals are as much responsible for these awards that I have received.
GS: What is the most rewarding part of teaching and coaching for you?
AH: Making a positive difference. Seeing students and athletes believe in themselves and push themselves outside their comfort zone. I enjoy watching their faces light up when they accomplish more than they thought they could accomplish as well as understand that they are always a small piece of the big picture. Watching kids selflessly participate in activities and giving it their best effort while competing at the highest level without the fear of failure is something I strive to impress upon my students and athletes daily.
GS: Congratulations on your ‘M’ Club Hall of Fame induction! What was it like to find out you were going to be inducted?
AH: Thank you. When I received the phone call and heard that I was selected into the “M” Club Hall of Fame it took my breath away and I could not put words together while on the phone.
As I tell everyone, the journey to this accolade started a long time ago when I wanted to be just like my brother. He allowed me to "tag" along and took care of me. My parents let me dream, they believed in, supported me and often said I could do anything I put my heart and mind to. A supportive little sister who was my biggest fan and thought I was the best. These things combined with teammates who let me be "just one of the guys", supported me, and included me as well a very supportive community gave me the opportunity to become passionate about being an athlete.
While at the U, I had coaches who I trusted and knew cared about me, pitchers that made opponents mishit balls, teammates that caught many errant throws and hitters in front of me as well as behind me that made opposing pitchers have to throw me strikes because they did not want to face them. My teammates who were not in the lineup pushed the ones who were playing at the time while displaying a positive attitude. We all loved to be together, at the field, and being a part of a team while playing a game we loved! The conditions were perfect for me to have success because of the people on the journey with me! Many people are a part of this accolade -it is not mine alone!
GS: What is the most valuable lesson you gained from your experience on the Gopher softball team and your year on the Gopher women’s hockey team?
AH: To give more to the people around you than yourself. Be humble and understand that you are always only a small part of a bigger picture. Coach Bernstein had us memorize the following poem - The Optimist Creed:
Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel like there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living person you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too strong for fear, and to happy to permit the presence of trouble.
I have not forgotten this, it is a part of who I have become, and I try to live it out daily.
GS: What is your favorite memory from your time at the University of Minnesota?
AH: I'm not sure I can pick a favorite memory. When I look back on my softball and hockey experiences, I remember being surrounded by people who believed we could win, were confident, worked to improve daily, enjoyed being around another and were just as or more excited for other people's success as they were for their own.
One of my favorite at-bats was in the region final against Fresno State. We were down by one and had bases loaded. A freshman pinch hitter, Kate Schwartz, came up and hit the ball inches foul. We thought it was fair and two runners scored before we realized the umpire called it foul. We lost 2-1. If fair, we would have won and had a better chance of winning the regional and head to the College World Series. Fresno State won the World Series that year. I was proud of how Kate prepared herself all year for that at-bat and how she approached that at-bat. She was successful at more things in that foul ball than the result of it being fair or foul.
GS: What is one piece of advice you would give to the current Gopher softball players?
AH: I am not sure it's advice. They may already feel or know what I will try to describe. When I look back, I can still feel the intense competition level. We had each other's backs and fought hard for one another. It's a feeling that cannot be described. A player gets only if they choose to be completely selfless, believe they can always win, sacrifice everything, save nothing, always fight and know that it's not over until the last swing or the buzzer sounds.
