NICOLE ZIMMERMAN, pictured third from left, celebrates North Reading softball’s first state championship in 1999. Zimmerman was a senior captain of that team and a 4-year starter for the Hornets. She was named the new head coach of the NRHS varsity softball team. (Transcript File Photo)
NORTH READING — North Reading native and NRHS graduate Nicole Zimmerman has been named the new North Reading High varsity softball head coach.
Zimmerman was a senior captain on the 1999 state championship team, the first in Hornet softball history.
She has been coaching softball at NRHS for 17 seasons, first as the freshman coach before moving up to the JV level where she has been coaching for the past 12 years.
“I have been a part of North Reading softball for many years as a player and then as a coach,” said Zimmerman. “I have always wanted to eventually move up and run the program. It is a wonderful community and I enjoy giving back to the program that meant so much to me growing up.”
Zimmerman, a para professional at the J.T. Hood School, was a four-year starter at first base for the Hornets and also started all four years at first for Endicott College.
As a coach, she has helped build NRHS softball into a state powerhouse – a foundation that she helped create as a student athlete.
She was coaching the freshmen when the varsity won the state title again in 2007 and was leading the JV when the varsity made it to the state semifinals in 2018.
Zimmerman takes over for Michelle Morales who was at the helm for seven seasons.
“I’m looking forward to building up the program and instilling a sense of pride in the girls as they represent North Reading on and off the field,” said Zimmerman. “I can’t wait to get started putting in the hard work on the field at practice and games to continue to grow and develop these players to play to their highest potential.”