Amanda Buchholz

Amanda Buchholz is a volunteer coach in title only. Although she is not an official paid member of the Husker coaching staff per NCAA rules, Buchholz devotes much of her time to the Nebraska softball program. Entering her fifth season as the Huskers' volunteer coach, Buchholz attends all practices and games, easily putting in more than a standard 40-hour work week.

Buchholz has been a key member of the Nebraska softball program for nearly a decade. She enters her 10th straight season as a player or coach for the Huskers in 2009, as she was a four-year starter at shortstop from 2000 to 2003, before serving in a coaching capacity from 2004 to the present day. In her current role, Buchholz works with the Husker infielders, while she also plays an active role with the planning, promotion and operation of the Big Red Softball camps and she is responsible for producing the On Deck Circle Newsletter, the only newsletter for the official booster club of Nebraska softball.

"Amanda (Buck) is a passionate and energetic coach who continues to show brilliance in her creative and enthusiastic teaching techniques," Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. "As a former Husker, her pride in this program burns deeply. We are extremely fortunate to have the services, talent and spirit of Buck as a part of our staff and team."

Buchholz first joined the Nebraska softball family in 2000, when she joined the Huskers in mid-March following her freshman season as a guard on the Nebraska women's basketball team. She immediately made an impact on the softball diamond, starting the final 49 games of the season. Buchholz started every game in 2001, 2002 and 2003, ending her career with 235 career starts. After she first joined the starting lineup, she never missed a start, tying for sixth place in the Nebraska career record book for games played, despite missing the first part of her freshman year.

In her highly decorated Husker career, Buchholz was a first-team All-Big 12 selection, as well as two-time first-team academic All-Big 12 honoree. She helped Nebraska to a 192-67 record in her four years, the most wins in a four-year stretch in program history. The Huskers won one Big 12 title during her career, while finishing in the top 15 of the final USA Today/NFCA coaches poll all four years. Buchholz was a key member of Nebraska's most recent Women's College World Series team, as she was named Most Outstanding Player of the Iowa City Regional, where the Huskers earned a berth to the 2002 Women's College World Series.

After her Husker playing career ended in the 2003 NCAA Tournament, Buchholz immediately jumped into the coaching field that fall, as she became the first head softball coach in the history of Lincoln North Star High School. Buchholz returned to the Nebraska softball program as a fifth-year coach in 2004, as she completed her final semester of work toward her undergraduate degree.

Buchholz's final endeavor as a player came in the summer of 2004, when she played professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch League as a member of the Texas Thunder. After her lone professional season, Buchholz rejoined the Nebraska staff as a volunteer coach and has been with the Huskers ever since.

When she's not helping the Huskers on the diamond, Buchholz offers private instruction on nights and weekends. She also works for Boyce Construction Inc., a locally-owned company that builds and maintains rental properties around the Lincoln community.

An Ogallala, Neb., native, Buchholz earned her bachelor's of science and education degree in middle grades education/coaching from Nebraska in May of 2004.