Former Oregon prep all-state softballer is newest assistant at Arizona State
Hailey Decker was a standout for McNary High, Nebraska and Oregon
After several years of coaching at smaller schools, former McNary High all-state softball player Hailey Decker is headed for the Division I softball ranks. Officials with Arizona State announced Monday that Decker has been hired as an assistant for the 2023-24 softball season in Tempe.
The 27-year old Decker has had quite the coaching journey leading her to Arizona State.
Hailey had a fantastic softball career as a player. She is daughter of longtime baseballer and major league assistant Steve Decker—who has been a stable force with the San Francisco Giants.
An athletic middle infielder, Hailey received all-state honors all four years in playing at McNary High—hitting .599 overall during her career. During her junior and senior years, Decker was named the Oregon 6A Softball Player of the Year.
Hailey moved on to college and Nebraska, where she continued to compile impressive numbers for the Cornhuskers. She recorded a .369 average in her two seasons , with 53 RBIs, 18 homers, and 51 runs scored. She also received first team All-Big Ten, and All-Midwest honors.
Decker then transferred closer to home, moving to Oregon for her junior and senior seasons. During her time at the U of O, Hailey was an All-Conference performer and First Team All-Pacific Region honoree. During her senior year, Decker led the Ducks to a 48-10 overall record. During her junior year, Hailey hit .432 with 48 runs scored, 10 doubles, 11 home runs, and 42 RBI, with an impressive .625 slugging percentage.
In 2016, Decker accepted an assistant coaching position right in her childhood home’s backyard, agreeing to work at Corban University in Salem for the Warriors softball program—where she helped players for a single season.
From there Hailey moved to Forest Grove to assist with the Pacific University softball team for two years. In 2019, she moved on to University of Pacific in Stockton, CA for a four year stint, including the 2020 covid pandemic season.
Decker also ventured to the Philippines, where she was part of that nation’s softball team thanks to her family heritage. The squad came up short of its goal to qualify for the pandemic-altered 2020 Olympics, bur she built relationships that led to her serving as head coach of the Amateur Softball Association national team in the Philippines for 16 months during the college off-season.
That led to Monday’s hiring announcement at Arizona State. Sun Devils coach Megan Bartlett said in a press release that she is excited about Hailey’s addition to her staff, and praised Decker for her knowledge, work ethic, and shared enthusiasm of Bartlett’s vision for the Sun Devil squad.
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