PORTLAND, Ore. ? Portland State Head Softball Coach Tobin Echo-Hawk has announced the hiring of Kellyn Tate to her coaching staff.

Tate comes to the Park Blocks from Miami (Ohio), where she spent the past three seasons as the lead assistant and worked with the team's hitters and outfielders. Tate will serve in the same capacity at PSU and will also handle recruiting duties.

"We are very excited to have someone with Kellyn's experience on our staff," said Echo-Hawk. "She brings enthusiasm and passion for the game of softball, and she has a tremendous amount of knowledge that will benefit our players."

While at Miami (Ohio), Tate assisted in the team setting four offensive school records in 2007, including at-bats, RBI, walks and hits. In 2008, five Redhawk hitters were named to All-MAC teams, including a program record four to the first team.

This past season the Redhawks went 33-24 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history. They picked up the school's first-ever NCAA tourney win with a 5-4 victory over Cleveland State.

Prior to her time with the Redhawks, Tate spent three seasons at Texas Tech (2003-06) and three at Penn State (1998-2001).

During Tate's time at Penn State, the Nittany Lions posted three-straight 30-win seasons and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and 2001. She coached five all-conference players, including Karen Gulini, Penn State's first NFCA All-American since 1985.

A 1998 graduate of the University of Michigan, Tate played two years in the WPSL, a professional softball league. She spent the 1998 season with the WPSL Champion Orlando Wahoos, and was the league batting champion in 1999 with the Akron Racers.

Additionally, Tate was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1996-97, and also played in the National Pro Fastpitch league with the Sacramento Sunbirds in 2004.

As a player at Michigan, Tate helped lead the Wolverines to three Big Ten regular season titles, four Big Ten Tournament Championships, and to the Women's College World Series all four years. She was a two-time NFCA All-American, and a three-time All-Great Lakes Region and All-Big Ten Conference honoree.

Tate earned her bachelor's degree in sports management and communications from Michigan in 1998, where she was honored with Michigan's athletic achievement award for having consecutive grade-point averages of 3.0. Tate then earned her master's degree in higher education from Texas Tech in 2003.