ALBANY, Ga. -- Albany State University's Harley Roller has been promoted to head coach of the Golden Rams' softball program, removing the designation of interim.

"We are excited to announce Harley Roller as our head softball coach at the Albany State University," said Athletics Director Sherie Gordon. "Coach Roller is committed to developing our young women into not only great softball players but preparing them for life after college. I am confident she will sustain and grow the ASU softball program. She is a tremendous teacher and coach that has a clear vision of how to build a program that is capable of competing at the highest level in the conference and region."

Roller was previously named interim head coach in August when Coach Amber Barker resigned to take over the Texas Women's University program. She joined ASU's staff as the pitching coach and worked with catchers and outfielders during her two years as ASU's assistant coach during Barker's two-year tenure, helping ASU to a 54-47 overall record and winning the 2018 SIAC Championship.

Roller takes over a program which returns 10 of 16 players from last season's team and will add talented freshmen.

"I want to start by thanking God for this opportunity and guidance through this transition. I also want to thank former Head Coach Amber Barker and Athletic Director Gordon for their support and help in this transition. It has been such an honor to be a part of the Ram Family. I am excited for the future of this program," Roller said. "The team really rallied behind me and supported me in this time of transition and we are looking forward to getting out and attacking this competitive spring schedule."

Prior to joining the ASU staff, Roller served as an assistant coach for two seasons at Southern University and A&M College of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, helping Southern to its first winning season in nearly a decade and a second-place finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) both years. Working with pitchers and catchers, hitters and outfielders, Roller helped the Jags lead the SWAC in lowest ERA and fewest hit batters.

A native of Whiteland, Indiana, Roller was a catcher for Southern from 2010-2014, including two years as team captain and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition to a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (social work, sociology, family and consumer sciences) from Southern, Roller recently completed her master's degree in kinesiology at Texas Women's University.

Albany State University will begin its first season of the Roller era Feb. 2-3 at the Georgia College Tournament.