The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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52 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2023 BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan softball continues to move further into the post-Carol Hutchins era, and familiar faces con- tinue to climb the ladder and step into positions of leadership within the pro- gram. The latest comes in the form of Faith Canfield, who was promoted to assistant coach on July 21 after serving as a volunteer with the Wolverines over the last two seasons. Head coach Bonnie Tholl promoted assistant Jennifer Brundage to associate head coach on July 17, which opened up the spot that allowed Canfield to move into a full-time role at her alma mater. Canfield, who was a standout player from 2016-19, spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Northwest- ern, where she earned a master's degree in sport administration. She returned to U-M in September 2021 as a volunteer assistant. During the past year, Canfield served as the team's first base coach while also working as a hitting coach with the pro- gram. Now, she has the opportunity to impact the program with a more ex- panded role within U-M softball. "Faith's impact in our program was outstanding when she was an All- American infielder and as a volunteer assistant coach," Tholl said in the pro- gram release announcing Canfield's hir- ing. "I am thrilled to have her elevated to full-time status and watch her develop as a professional. Faith has an abun- dance of knowledge and resourcefulness that makes for a future coaching star." Canfield, a native of Garden Grove, Calif., has been honored to come back to campus and give back to the program. Now, she gets to continue climbing through the coaching ranks while once again donning the Maize and Blue. "I am extremely thankful for the op- portunity to stay home," Canfield said. "The University of Michigan has meant so much to me and has done so much for me and my growth over the years. I have the privilege of continuing to work with and learn from the best coaching staff in the country and experience massive support from the operations team that is a cornerstone of Michigan athletics. "It remains my job to give our stu- dent-athletes the best experience pos- sible and lead them to be successful in the classroom and on the field. The excitement I have for what we can ac- complish as a program is unmatched, and I can't wait to further the legacy of this outstanding program. You don't go to Michigan for four years, you go to Michigan for life! Go Blue!" Canfield twice captained the Michi- gan softball team and was primarily an infielder during her four-year career in Ann Arbor. She was a three-time All- Big Ten first-team selection and also earned a pair of nods to the Big Ten All- ❱ WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Former U-M Softball Star Faith Canfield Promoted To Assistant Coach Canfield was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten performer during her time playing second base for U-M from 2016-19. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY