Post steps down from softball position

By PHIL MONSON
Erica Post, who has served as assistant and head coach of the Humboldt High School softball team for a total of 18 seasons, has stepped down from her position.

Post’s resignation was accepted by the Humboldt School Board at their regular monthly meeting Monday night, Sept. 15.
Post spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Wildcats, compiling an overall won-loss record of 45-43, 25-17 in the North Central Conference. She was a long-time assistant under legendary Wildcat head coach Doug Van Pelt, helping guide Humboldt to five straight NCC titles from 2016 to 2020, along with four state tournament trips.
She began coaching in the Humboldt program in 2008 after attending Buena Vista University where she played softball and became a certified physical trainer. Since returning to Humboldt, she has taken over the family farming operation southwest of Humboldt. As she has assumed a bigger role in the farming operation, Post said it made it more challenging to continue as head coach, especially during the busy spring season for farming and softball.

Post informed the team during a meeting on Sept. 14.
“The responsibilities of being a head coach have increased a lot over the last 10 years. It has become more of a full-time position and I’ve realized I don’t have the time that the program and the girls need. I want them to be as successful as possible and they have a bright future,” Post said in an interview with the Independent.
“There’s a lot of talented kids returning next year and a lot of talented kids playing on the travel teams. I think the future for the program looks bright. Because of that, I thought this would be a good time to step away so the school can get somebody in there who can dedicate more time to the girls,” Post said.

“Every spring and summer it’s always a case where I have to be two places at once. Unfortunately, that’s not something I have figured out how to do yet,” Post said.
“The things that really stand out to me are the relationships and friendships you develop. After I graduated from high school I served as a volunteer seventh grade coach and I continued that during college,” Post said.

“I never had the thought that it would turn into a head coaching position and the 18 years went by like a blink of an eye,” Post said. “I’ve coached at every single level all the way up to head coach. I have definitely enjoyed my time.”
“Highlights include the state tournament appearances, conference championships. Five conference championships in a row is an incredible feat. Those things definitely stand out, but so do the relationships I’ve built with the players, past and present,” Post said.

“The community support has been great. Fans come out and watch us. You go to the grocery store and somebody comes up to you and says, ‘great job. I saw the game’ or ‘I read about your big game in the newspaper or I heard it on the radio.’ You get that community support which is a huge plus. That doesn’t happen everywhere” Post said.
“I want to give a huge thank you to coach Van Pelt for giving me the opportunity all those years ago and taking me under his wing and showing me how you be a coach. How you treat the players,” Post said.
“We always had great support from school teachers and administration. They always offered great support and encouragement. They helped me be able to work through any issue,” Post said.

“It’ been a great chapter in my life and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish during that time,” Post said.