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As she performs more of her duties as an assistant to Zerkle, the Thundering Herdòòò½ÊÓƵ™s coach, Harrell said she is warming up to the idea of òòò½ÊÓƵœdown the lineòòò½ÊÓƵ� taking that next coaching step. Sheòòò½ÊÓƵ™s òòò½ÊÓƵœthinking about how to manage being a head coach, with more responsibilities that most know are in the field,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Harrell said.

The prospect camp that Zerkle leads is even more helpful to Harrell, because the other college coaches who also attended the event allowed her to learn even more.

Getting to talk to those coaches and learning what works for them òòò½ÊÓƵ” as well as what doesnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t òòò½ÊÓƵ” helps Harrell in her position with the Herd.

It also doesnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t hurt to establish connections.

òòò½ÊÓƵœSoftball is such a small world,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Harrell said, òòò½ÊÓƵœand the fact that everyone knows everyone, and everyone can kind of learn off everyone. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™d love to be able to learn more from coaches and how we can put (more) into our program.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

While Zerkle just completed her first season as Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s coach, she has been an assistant coach too and said experience is a valuable teacher.

òòò½ÊÓƵœYou always learn as you go,òòò½ÊÓƵ� said Zerkle, a Milton native who played at Cabell Midland before playing for Marshall through the 2017 season. òòò½ÊÓƵœHaving your different experiences, you know what you like, and what you donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t like, and what you want to teach your assistants and kind of give them a good experience, but also give them leverage to be their own coach as well. I think we have a good dynamic on our staff with that.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

While they coach together, Harrell and Zerkle missed being Marshall teammates by one season. Harrell started her freshman year in the fall of 2017 following Zerkleòòò½ÊÓƵ™s graduation.

Harrell, a native of Gahanna, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, played 220 games for the Thundering Herd, including 215 starts. By the time she was finished, Harrell ranked third at Marshall in career walks, tied for 15th in home runs, 19th in total bases, 20th in slugging percentage and 27th in RBIs.

Because of COVID-19, Harrell earned an extra year of eligibility, allowing her to compete through the 2022 season. Along the way, Harrell won Marshallòòò½ÊÓƵ™s senior CLASS award òòò½ÊÓƵ” a distinction she shares with Zerkle òòò½ÊÓƵ” as well as the 2022 Warrior Award, and she was a four-time All-Conference USA first-team selection and an NFCA All-Region first-team member twice.

Harrell was also the 2018 Conference USA Freshman of the Year.

In 2023, Harrell became a volunteer assistant for Marshall under then-coach Megan Smith Lyon and remained on staff when Zerkle took over last season, becoming an assistant.

Harrell said she likes Huntington and Marshall, which has played a part in her decision to not fast-track her coaching career elsewhere.

She said she is grateful to Zerkle for the learning opportunities she has had.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI think Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve learned a lot under her in such a short period of time,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Harrell said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI have known Zerk since 2017 as a recruit and getting in touch with her at alumni events and stuff like that throughout my playing [career] and being an alum, then playing with her at [Athletes Unlimited], so Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve always been kind of able to talk with her some. Now, with her being my boss, actually being under her, Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve learned more than I can even think of learning in a year, so Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m super grateful for her in instilling that in me as her assistant.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Zerkleòòò½ÊÓƵ™s prospect camp at Hurricane, as well as those conducted at Marshall, allow Harrell to help the Thundering Herdòòò½ÊÓƵ™s recruiting efforts, one of the aspects of coaching softball she said she enjoys.