ACC's Softball Camp Form
Athletic Director & Head Softball Coach - Dr. Jennifer Hightower
Building F, Room 107
Phone: 281.756.3696
Email: jhightower@alvincollege.edu
Jennifer Hightower joined the ACC Athletics Program in 1999. A native of Houston, Jennifer attended St. Agnes Academy where she was a four-sport athlete. She was also a member of one of the original Houston Independent softball teams, the Houstonaires. She played collegiate softball for Oklahoma City University. During this time the OCU squad finished as the 1986 NAIA National Runners-Up, back to back 4th place finishes in 1987 and 1988, and 5th place finish in 1989.
Individually, Hightower was honored as the 1986 Rookie of the Year, 1988 All-District Outfield, 1988 NAIA National Tournament All-Tournament Team, 1989 All-District Catcher, and the 1989 MTXE Award recipient. A Physical Education major, she twice made the President's Honor Roll, graduated Cum Laude, and received the Department of Education's 1990 Outstanding Future Secondary Teacher Award.
Coach Hightower returned to Houston in 1990 and spent the next two years teaching K-8 physical education and coaching girls' junior high sports at St. Anne Catholic School. During this time she also coached her alma mater travel team, the Houstonaires, as well as the Alvin Challengers.
She returned to collegiate softball in 1992 serving as the assistant softball coach for Texas Lutheran University while completing her Masters of Education degree in Physical Education from the University of Houston. At the conclusion of the 1993 season, Hightower was promoted to Head Softball Coach and Director of Intramural and Recreational Sports. Over the next four years she amassed a 101-98 record including a 31-14 campaign in 1994 where her Lady Bulldogs climbed to 9th in the NAIA national polls. Her players and teams received several post season honors including an NAIA All-American, two NFCA All-Americans, the Heart of Texas Conference Freshman of the year and HOTC Player of the Year, in addition to being recognized as one of the top ten academic NAIA softball teams.
In the fall of 1997, Coach Hightower returned once again to Houston to complete her doctoral studies in sport psychology. She served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Health and Human Performance at the University of Houston, as well as serving as assistant softball coach at San Jacinto College. In August of 1999, Coach Hightower began her second stint as head coach here at Alvin Community College and successfully defended her dissertation in January of 2001 earning her Doctorate of Education in Physical Education. She serves as the Director of Athletics, chair of the Department of Sports and Human Performance and the Fitness Center Director.
Assistant Coach - Paul Sloan
Paul Sloan is a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, and has resided in Alvin since 1980. He has been involved in coaching female softball players for nearly 20 years. He began his coaching career in 1981 with the Alvin Silver Streaks. In 1988 he pursued an interest in the Alvin Challengers and continued this coaching season until 2000.
In 1992 Paul retired from Southwestern Bell, but has continued his passion for softball with the ACC Dolphins. His wife, Alice, teaches physical education at Alvin Primary. They have three daughters, two of which were involved in collegiate athletics. Kelly, now 37, played volleyball at Sam Houston State. Catherine, 27, played volleyball here at Alvin Community College. She has a twin sister, Jennifer. Between the three girls, Paul has five granddaughters - Meredith, Michelle, Madison, Ashley, and Allison.
