Deifel welcomes familiar face back to program as assistant

Arkansas fans won’t need an introduction to the latest softball assistant coaching hire.

Danielle Gibson Whorton, a former two-time NFCA All-American and first in program history, was announced Friday as Courtney Deifel’s newest assistant.

“I’m ecstatic to be returning to Fayetteville in a new and exciting role. Joining Coach Deifel, Coach Meuchel and Coach Gasso is an experience I couldn’t pass up,” Gibson Whorton said. “It’s home for my husband and has become home for me. It all made sense. How fortunate am I to have an opportunity to push this amazing program forward outside of my playing days? New opportunities come with new challenges, and I cannot wait to get started. We will Call the Hogs on The Hill once again.”

Gibson Whorton was a volunteer assistant at Georgia last season. While in Athens, Gibson Whorton guided Bulldog hitters to four All-SEC honors, four NFCA All-Region accolades and two NFCA All-America selections.

Under a new ruling handed down earlier this year, volunteer assistant roles were eliminated and a third paid assistant coach role was added by the NCAA Division I council.

Gibson Whorton will join a staff of Matt Meuchel and recently hired DJ Gasso.