December 19, 2025-Emporia State Director of Athletics Steve Rodecap has announced several changes to the Hornet Athletic Department. April Rosales will move from the head softball coach to Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Senior Woman Administrator.  Assistant coach Megan Hill will take over the softball head coach position.
 
"I'm excited to announce that April Rosales has accepted the role of Associate Athletic Director/SWA here at Emporia State University," said Rodecap. "Her experience within our department, combined with her support of our student-athletes will be invaluable as we continue towards being the premier athletic program in the MIAA."

Rosales went 270-245 in her ten years as the head coach of the Hornet softball team. She won the 2018 MIAA Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament before falling to Minn.-Duluth in the Central Region 1 Championship. Her 270 wins rank second all-time at Emporia State. The Hornets were 31-23 last season, their third straight 30 win season.
 
In the classroom Emporia State had a 3.640 team GPA last year to rank third in the MIAA and 32nd nationally in the Easton/NFCA Team GPA standings. The Hornets also earned the NCAA Helper Helper national championship in community service last year after having been ranked in the top five of all Division II women's sports teams three times.
 
In her new role Rosales will be a part of the Athletic Senior Leadership Team while overseeing internal operations including compliance and student-athlete development.
 
"This opportunity is not one I was looking for, but it is a journey I am eager to begin," said Rosales. "For 20 years, I have bled black and gold and Hornet Softball but now I have the chance to invest in each of our programs. Steve Rodecap is a leader I believe in and trust to continue moving Hornet Athletics forward, and I look forward to helping him, and all of our colleagues and coaches, on that path to the top!"
 
An Emporia State graduate, Rosales was a member of both the Hornets national runner-up teams. She was the starting shortstop for the 2008 Hornets as they advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship game. She was named First Team All-MIAA at shortstop after batting .512 in conference action and was stellar in the field as well with just three errors in 56 chances. Following her playing days she spent seven years as an assistant with the Hornets. She assisted in all facets of the Hornet softball program under both coach Kristi Bredbenner and Julie LeMaire.
 
"The appreciation and love I have for Hornet Softball and the athletes and coaches I have been able to work with over the years is greater than I can put into words," said Rosales. "We have poured our hearts and souls into each year, and I hope the women we were lucky enough to coach continue to grow and flourish with help from the lessons they learned as Hornets."
 
This will be Coach Hill's third season on the staff at Emporia State. Following the opening weekend of the 2024 season, Hill stepped in for the rest of the season as Coach Rosales was away due to doctor's orders regarding her pregnancy and helped the Hornets to a 30-15 record over the remainder of the season.
 
"I am excited to continue working with the team and building upon the things we built and established in the fall," said Hill. "This team is a very hard-working group with tremendous team chemistry and I am confident they will come back in January ready to go. The goals we set in August haven't changed and Coach (Dustin) Snyder and I will work hard to help these ladies achieve them!"
 
Hill joined the coaching staff at Emporia State after spending four years as the head coach at Northern Oklahoma College. In her four years at NOC, Coach Hill's teams averaged a 3.36 team GPA and 38 athletes earned Academic All-American status. The 2023 season at NOC was the best season the program had seen in over six years, compiling statistical bests in record, home runs, stolen bases, team batting average and team ERA. In her four years at NOC, Coach Hill had 13 athletes earn all-conference honors.

Prior to Northern Oklahoma College, Megan was the head coach at El Dorado HS. She earned AVCTL Coach of the Year honors in 2017 and had 18 players earn All-League honors in her four seasons. While Hill was in charge of the program her teams set school records for team batting average, most doubles in a season and most hits in a season.
 
"Megan Hill has already proven to be successful as the interim head softball coach when Coach Rosales was on maternity leave," said Rodecap "Under Coach Hill's leadership, the Softball program will be more than ready to compete at a high level this upcoming season."
 
A ESU Athletics Hall of Honor member as a player, Hill graduated from Emporia State with school and MIAA records with 275 career hits, doubles, 52 career home runs and 216 career RBI. She was a two-time All-American for the Hornets at third base and earned All-MIAA honors all four years.
 
"Coach Hill has been a friend of mine for nearly 20 years and knowing she would be next in line made my decision a little easier," said Rosales. "She has made me a better coach, mentor, and friend by being here the last three years, and I wish her and Dustin nothing but the best.  Together, I can promise you they will work tirelessly for our women, and I know they will leave the program better than they found it."
 
The Hornets will return eight starters from last year's 31-23 team including All-MIAA performers Taryn Burkhardt in the outfield, Brooke Flewelling at third base and Sydney Wagner at shortstop along with MIAA Gold Glove outfielder Juliana De Luna.
 
"I appreciate the trust and confidence that April and Steve have in me to continue the drive to move ESU softball to the top of the MIAA," said Hill.
 
The Hornets are scheduled to open the 2026 season on January 30 against Lewis University in the Lone Star Classic in Mansfield, Texas. The home opener will be a March 8 doubleheader against Augustana at the Trusler Sports Complex.