20th year at Illinois Central College
Alma mater: Bradley University ('97)
Since 2006, Heather Doty has engineered Cougar softball into one of the most successful junior college softball programs in the Midwest. Just four seasons into her tenure (2009), ICC qualified for the World Series and since then, ICC has been a mainstay there, having participated in the Big Dance eleven times in the past 18 seasons. Under Doty, the Cougars have finished 4th in the nation four times (2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017), have a 5th place finish (2012), a 7th place finish (2018), and been qualifiers in 2009, 2019, 2022, and 2025.
The Cougars had a banner season in 2025 as they won the Central District Tournament and returned to the World Series for the 11th time. After a tough non-region schedule, the team closed the regular season with a 15-2 record and kept that momentum going at Districts. They lost their opener to #1 seed and host Mineral Area and then battled through the loser's bracket, defeating #2 Parkland, #3 St. Louis, and then beating Mineral Area twice for the District Title. At Nationals, Doty's squad beat Mott (MI) but then lost lost to Des Moines Area, beat Delaware Tech, and lost to Phoenix to close the season at 35-23.
Doty and staff earned Region 24 Coach of the Year honors. Shortstop Nivarra Oredina, pitcher Emily Compton, and outfielder Courtney Campbell were named All-Region.
In Doty's tenure, the Cougars have had six NJCAA All-Americans and a remarkable 86 NJCAA All-Academic Team members. Her mentorship goes beyond the diamond, as 95% of her players have continued their education and graduated from four-year schools.
A native of Iowa City, Iowa, Doty played collegiately at nearby Bradley University, where her name is still found in the Braves' record book. Her 31 career victories are seventh all-time, and she ranks fifth in career strikeouts with 366. In the 1997 season alone, Doty struck out 197 batters---good for sixth all-time in BU history, a mark that also earned her a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament Team.
After her collegiate playing career, Doty began her time in the coaching ranks as an assistant softball and volleyball coach at Decatur's Millikin University. From there, Doty made the short trip up I-74 to be an assistant volleyball coach at Morton High School. After the stint at Morton, she would return to the softball field. Doty served as the head coach of Northland College's softball and volleyball programs.
Prior to ICC, Doty was the head softball coach at University High School in Normal. While leading the Pioneers, her teams combined for 74 wins, two Regional Championships, and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2004, one of six such seasons for the program.
In addition to coaching, Doty serves as the Eligibility Coordinator for ICC's Athletic Department.
She is married to Robert Doty, and they have two sons, Isaiah and Luke.
Updated 08-10-2025
