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Heather Bateman begins her first season as Olivet’s head women’s basketball coach. Prior to being promoted to head coach, she served as the assistant women’s basketball coach for six years. Bateman also serves as the associate athletic director and senior woman administrator within the athletic department and an instructor in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sport Department.
Bateman received a bachelor’s degree in human resources development from Oakland University in 1997. She was a member of the women’s basketball team, earning second-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) honors in 1996. Bateman earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State University in 2001.
Bateman played one year of basketball at Ferris State University before transferring to Oakland. She ended her four-year career with 1,083 points and 726 rebounds, which ranks 18th and 7th, respectively, all-time for the Pioneers. While at Oakland, Bateman led her team to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two GLIAC championships.
Bateman graduated from Burton-Bendle High School, leading the Tigers to a 28-0 record and the 1991 Michigan High School Athletic Association Class C championship.
Before coming to Olivet in 2001, Bateman coached at Northwood University, University of Detroit-Mercy and Wayne State University.
Nicole Burford is in her first season as an assistant women's
basketball coach. She is also an assistant track and field coach.
Prior to joining the Olivet staff, Burford was an assistant women’s basketball coach and instructor of physical education at Kalamazoo College for two years and a graduate assistant at Western Michigan University (WMU) for one year, teaching physical education, and health and wellness classes. Her basketball background also includes serving as a coach and counselor for summer camps at Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Michigan State University, Oberlin (Ohio) College, University of Tennessee and University of Virginia. Burford is a member of the Black Coaches Association, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and Basketball Coaches of Michigan.
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Burford earned a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin in 2005 and completed a master’s degree from WMU in December 2007. While a student at Oberlin, she was a three-year letterwinner on the basketball team and also participated in track and field.
On the basketball court, Burford was a 2005 second-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) selection, as she ranked among the conference leaders in minutes played (37.9 mpg), assists (2nd, 2.9 apg), rebounding (3rd, 7.8 rpg) and scoring (4th, 15.3 ppg). On the track, she earned All-NCAC honors in 2005 as a part of the second-place 4x100-meter relay.
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Antionette Short
Assistant Coach
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Antionette Short is in her first season as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Olivet. She assists Bateman with all aspects of recruiting student-athletes.
A native of Flint, Short earned an associate’s degree from Lansing Community College in 2003. While attending Michigan State University, she was a member of the women’s basketball and women’s club volleyball teams. She is currently taking classes to complete a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy.
Short is a home health aide for Spectrum Health, working with traumatic brain injury patients. She also plays women’s tackle football for the West Michigan Mayhem.
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Amy (Strouse) VanZee
Assistant Coach
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Amy (Strouse)
VanZee is in her third season as an assistant women's
basketball coach. She is serving as the head junior varsity
coach.
A native of Ashley, VanZee earned a
bachelor's degree from Olivet in 2002. While at Olivet, she
participated in basketball, softball, volleyball and track.
VanZee is a sixth-grade science teacher
at W.K. Kellogg Middle School in Battle Creek.
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Olivet College announces new faculty members