Denison Elevates Ozbun to Assistant AD, Tabs Henery as Interim

| By: Denison Athletic Communications
GRANVILLE, OH - After 18 years at the helm of the Denison softball program, Tiffany Ozbun has been promoted as the Big Red's Assistant Director of Athletics-Internal Operations and Intramurals. With this new role, she will be stepping down from her head coaching duties and joining the administrative staff.

Ozbun wrapped her time with Denison softball as the longest-running head coach in program history, and second longest in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), leading the Big Red for 18 seasons. As the program's third head coach, she finished her career with a record of 398-269 (.597), which is the best winning percentage among the program's three coaches. 
Ozbun had bookend seasons to highlight her tenure as Denison's head coach. In her first season leading the Big Red, the team finished the NCAC regular season in third place, won the NCAC Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Regional tournament. In Ozbun's final season as head coach, Denison finished the regular season as  Co-Champions, earning the chance to host the conference tournament on its home turf and making it to the championship game. Ozbun and her coaching staff, made up of Adriene Henery, Brian Ledford, and Crash, also earned the NCAC's Coaching Staff of the Year award after finishing the season with a record of 26-13.

When asked about this transition, Ozbun stated, "While I'm incredibly excited for this new opportunity, stepping away from softball is certainly bittersweet. Being part of the Denison Softball program for over 18 years has been one of the greatest joys of my professional life. The relationships, the growth, the memories — they've shaped who I am as a coach, leader, and person.
That said, this transition is a natural step in my journey. Pursuing a career in athletic administration has been a long-standing goal of mine — one I committed to over 20 years ago when I earned my Master's in Sport Administration. With recent changes within our department, the opportunity to serve as Denison's Assistant Athletic Director of Internal Operations was one I simply couldn't pass up."

Associate V.P., Director of Athletics/ Associate Professor of Physical Education, Matt Tanney added that, "As Coach Ozbun transitions from Head Softball Coach into administrative leadership, she leaves an indelible mark on the Big Red softball program and a generation of Denison student-athletes. Capping her coaching career as the 2025 NCAC Champions is fitting for someone that's contributed so significantly to the success of the athletics program. I look forward to working with Tiffany in her new role as Assistant Athletic Director."

Ozbun reiterated that she is honored to continue serving Denison Athletics in this new capacity and remain deeply committed to supporting our student-athletes, coaches, and programs in meaningful ways.

Ozbun Career Highlights 
  • 4x NCAC Regular Season Champions
  • Never dipped below fourth place in the regular season
  • Coached 86 All-NCAC recipients
  • Coached 6 NCAC Players of the Year
  • Coached 3 NCAC Pitchers of the Year
  • 4xNCAC Coach of the Year/Coaching Staff of the Year 
  • Coached 2 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® recipients (1st and 2nd Team)
  • Coached a 2x NFCA Catcher of the Year and an NFCA All-American
  • Coached 25 NFCA All-Region players
  • Spearheaded the remodeling and turfing of the softball field
Program Updates
Coach Adriene Henery will act as interim head coach for the 2026 season after two years as Denison's assistant coach. Since joining the Big Red, Henery has helped Denison to a 51-25 record and is a part of a two-time NCAC Softball Coaching Staff of the Year.
Ozbun exclaimed, "I'm thrilled to share that Coach Henery will be stepping into the role of Interim Head Softball Coach. She is an outstanding leader and mentor, and I have every confidence she will carry the program forward with vision and passion. The future of Denison Softball is in great hands."

When asked about transitioning into the interim head coach position, Henery shared, "I am truly honored to step into the role as interim head coach. I am incredibly grateful to Coach Ozbun for her leadership and for building such a strong foundation for this program over the past 18 seasons. Over the last two seasons working alongside her, I have been able to learn so much, but the most important lesson was how to lead a successful program. Coach Ozbun gave her whole heart to this program and to the game of softball, and I will forever be thankful for the opportunity to have shared the field with her. 

Henery continued to state, "My focus now is carrying that legacy forward by supporting the athletes on and off the field while guiding the team toward their goals. I'm inspired by the grit and passion that define Denison Softball, and I am excited to see that spirit carried into this next chapter of the program."

Tanney expressed that he's "both grateful and excited for Coach Henery to step into the role as Interim Head Coach for the upcoming season. Adriene's total commitment to the day-to-day operations of the softball team positions us for sustained success. I look forward to working with Adriene to continue to provide the consistent mentorship, commitment to students, and coaching acumen that Coach Ozbun displayed as head coach."

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