Bucknell University Athletics
Kisa Brannen Named Assistant Softball Coach at Bucknell
8/5/2005 8:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 5, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell head softball coach Heather Rakosik has announced the hiring of Kisa Brannen as assistant coach. A 2003 graduate of Dartmouth College where she was a four-year member of the softball team, Brannen served as an assistant coach at Canisius College the last two seasons. Additionally, Angie Stackhouse, a former Bison softball player and a 2004 graduate of Bucknell, will return to the coaching staff for the second straight year, serving as a graduate assistant coach.
Brannen played catcher, utility and first base in her four seasons with the Big Green. She left her mark on the Dartmouth career record book, finishing first in home runs (9), third in batting average (.307), runs batted in (71) and walks (31), and fourth in doubles (26).
She played in 44 games as a senior and set a new Dartmouth single-season record with 36 runs batted in. She hit a career-best .322, with 10 doubles, one triple, and a team-best five home runs after opening the season with a nine-game hitting streak.
"I am thrilled to add Kisa to our softball family," said Rakosik. "She is well-versed in many aspects of the game and her recruiting prowess will only enhance our team. Additionally, her understanding of the academic rigors of an institution like Bucknell will assist in our coaching staff's ability to give our student-athletes the most supportive environment possible."
A Los Angeles, Calif., native, Brannen graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in sociology. She earned her master's degree in sports administration during her tenure at Canisius.
While with the Golden Griffins, who qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2003 and 2004, Brannen had a myriad of duties, but focused on working closely with the pitchers and catchers and recruiting. She used her California roots to her advantage by signing nine recruits from her home state during her two years at Canisius.
Brannen first gained coaching experience by serving as a camp counselor at the Dartmouth softball camps from 1999-2003. She continued working camps at Canisius and was responsible for managing the camp staff and running pitching clinics.
As an undergraduate, Brannen worked in the Dartmouth sports information office and helped maintain the ice during home hockey games by serving as an assistant to the ice technician.
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Stackhouse, who graduated with a degree in business administration with a religion minor, hit .289 with 10 home runs and 76 runs batted in during her four-year career that featured 151 starts.
An accomplished catcher, Stackhouse posted a .964 fielding percentage as a senior as she served the role of team co-captain.
Brannen and Stackhouse will be part of a Bucknell coaching staff set to guide a squad that posted a 16-22 overall record in 2005, its highest victory total since winning 19 games in 2001. The Bison finished 8-10 in Patriot League play and qualified for the Patriot League Tournament for the second consecutive season as the fourth seed.
Bucknell sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports, including 14 for women, at the Division I level (I-AA football). It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship in 11 of the 15 years it has been contested. Bucknell led the nation with a 100 percent graduation rate in the 2003 survey and ranks third in Division I in producing Academic All-Americans.
