COACHING STAFF THE COACHING STAFF HEAD COACH TYRA PERRY // FOURTH SEASON “IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO BE NAMED THE HEAD SOFTBALL COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL GAME OF SOFTBALL AND WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO HELP LEAD OUR PROGRAM TO PROMINENCE IN THE AND ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.” – Tyra Perry

Tyra Perry was hired as the University of registered a seventh place finish in the Big Ten Conference with a 12-11 record in the Illinois’ second-ever head coach in June, standings. The Illini’s 36 wins was the most wins the team has notched since posting 2015. Entering her 18th season as a NCAA 45 victories during the 2010 campaign, while the 36-23 mark is also the best start ever Division I softball head coach and fourth at by any first year Illinois softball or baseball head coach. the helm of the Illini, Perry has totaled over 500 career victories as the head coach at Under Perry’s guidance, the Illini have notched 12 National Fastpitch Coaches Illinois, Ball State, Western Kentucky and Association (NFCA) honors as Nicole Evans (First-Team), Allie Bauch (Second-Team) and Birmingham Southern. Breanna Wonderly (Third-Team) were recognized in 2016 and Stephanie Abello joined Evans and Wonderly as first-team honorees in 2017, while Alyssa Gunther and Annie Perry has made an immediate impact in her Fleming also garnered second-team accolades in 2017. Last season, the Illini had a time at the helm of Illini softball, leading quartet of student-athletes earn NFCA with Carly Thomas, Kiana Sherlund and Abello all the program to its first back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances since 2010 after collecting First-Team accolades and Bella Loya receiving Second-Team honors. advancing to postseason play in 2016 and 2017 and has guided the Illini to 36 wins or more for three-straight seasons for the first time in program history. The Perry era in Champaign-Urbana started with a bang as UI registered a 5-1 win over then-No. 10 Florida State in the team’s season-opening tournament in Miami, Fla., with In just three seasons at the lead of the Illinois softball program, Perry earned her 100th the victory over the Seminoles marking the first win over a ranked opponent since the win as an Illini with a 20-2 beat down of Maryland on April 8 and is 112-61 (.647) during Illini defeated No. 4 Michigan on April 25, 2014 at Eichelberger Field. It was also just her time in the Orange and Blue. the seventh win against a top-10 foe and just the fourth win against a top-10 team not named Michigan. In Perry’s third campaign in Champaign, the 2018 Illini posted a 37-18 overall record and a sixth-place finish with a 13-8 mark in the Big Ten Conference, with the 37 total During her two seasons at Ball State, Perry directed the Cardinals to 67 wins with a victories ranking as the fourth-most wins in the conference. The Illini also tallied one combined nine All-MAC selections and 13 Academic All-MAC honorees. This year’s team of their best home seasons in program history with a 15-2 record at Eichelberger Field went 34-25 and won the Mid-American Conference West Division before claiming the in 2018, including posting the second-highest win percentage and most victories in 2015 MAC Tournament Championship, earning the Cardinals an automatic bid to the program history. NCAA Tournament. Ball State defeated 16th-seeded Notre Dame in postseason action to record its first-ever NCAA Regional victory. Perry led the 2017 squad to a 39-20 record, tying for the fourth-most wins in program history and a top-four finish in the Big Ten Conference with a 14-8 mark, while also Perry was named 2014 MAC Coach of the Year during her first season at Ball State after advancing to the conference tournament semifinals for the first time since 2004. The guiding the program to a 33-19 mark and overall conference title during the regular Illini ended the 2017 season with their third-highest RPI ranking in program history season. The Cardinals had a program-record five first-team All-MAC selections, led by at No. 27 and made an appearance or received votes in both the USA Today/National Player of the Year Jennifer Gilbert, who also earned All-America honors. Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the ESPN.com/USA Softball top-25 polls 10 out of the 16 weeks throughout the season, including the final nine weeks of the 2017 Prior to Ball State, Perry spent six seasons as head coach at Western Kentucky, guiding campaign. The Illini finished the season with appearances in both the USA Today/ the Lady Toppers to 196 victories to become the winningest coach in program history. National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the ESPN.com/USA Softball top-25 In 2013, WKU earned its first-ever NCAA Regional appearance, advancing to the polls, finishing at No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and in the receiving four championship game of the Tuscaloosa Regional. Western Kentucky finished the year votes section of the USA Today/NFCA poll. ranked No. 26 in the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), the highest final ranking in program history. In her first season in Champaign-Urbana, Perry took the Illini back to NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2010 and fifth overall in program history. UI wrapped Perry’s Perry also guided the Lady Toppers to several other firsts during the 2013 campaign. first year with the fifth-most wins in program history with a 36-23 overall record and The program posted its first 40-plus-win season (43-18) and earned its first Sun Belt

Head Coach Tyra Perry at her introductory press conference on April 25, 2015 Perry and assistant coach Laura Trout speaking with the 2018 team 8 // 2019 ILLINOIS SOFTBALL THE COACHING STAFF

Conference regular season title with a 20-3 league record. The two-time Sun Belt Coach of the Year (2009 and 2013), Perry helped Emily Rousseau earn PERRY YEAR-BY-YEAR the program’s first SBC Pitcher of the Year honor in 2013. In her six seasons with the Lady AT ILLINOIS Toppers, Perry helped her players garner 14 All-SBC honors and eight SBC All-Tournament Year Record Accomplishments Team selections. 2018 37-18 (13-8 B1G) 6th B1G In the classroom, Perry’s Western Kentucky student-athletes earned five CoSIDA Academic 2017 39-20 (14-8 B1G) 4th B1G; NCAA Regional Qualifier All-District selections, 22 recognitions on the Sun Belt Commissioner’s List and 34 Sun Belt 2016 36-23 (12-11 B1G) 7th B1G; NCAA Regional Qualifier Academic Honor Roll awards. HEAD COACHING TOTAL 112-61 (.647) over 3 season Perry guided Birmingham-Southern to 146 victories in seven years as head coach (six seasons of competition), despite the Panthers being a provisional NCAA Division I member during the AT BALL STATE 2002 and 2003 seasons. In 2006, she led Birmingham-Southern to its first winning season in program history with a 28-21 record. Year Record Accomplishments 2015 34-25 (14-5 MAC) 1st MAC West; NCAA Regional Qualifier Her Panthers squads posted at least 25 wins in each of her final five seasons with the program. 2014 33-19 (12-4 MAC) 1st MAC In addition, 15 Birmingham-Southern student-athletes received postseason honors from the Big South Conference during Perry’s tenure. HEAD COACHING TOTAL 67-44 (.603) over 2 seasons

In 2006, Perry added the title of Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator to AT WESTERN KENTUCKY her duties and served as the school’s compliance director. Perry also was the head coach for a Southeastern All-Star team that played the United States Olympic squad prior to the 2004 Year Record Accomplishments games in Athens. 2013 43-18 (20-3 Sun Belt) 1st Sun Belt; NCAA Regional Qualifier 2012 33-25-1 (11-12-1 Sun Belt) 5th Sun Belt A 1997 and 1998 graduate of Louisiana State University, Perry earned a bachelor’s degree in 2011 30-29 (9-15 Sun Belt) 7th Sun Belt kinesiology in 1997 and added a master’s degree in sports administration in 1998. After two 2010 27-25 (6-15 Sun Belt) 9th Sun Belt seasons at Nicholls State, Perry followed her head coach to LSU as the second signee in the first signing class of the newly created Tiger softball program. After sitting out in 1996, she 2009 35-19 (14-9 Sun Belt) 3rd Sun Belt became a two-year letterwinner for the Tigers (1997-98), helping the program post a combined 2008 28-30 (6-15 Sun Belt) 8th Sun Belt 102-28 record over her career, including a 58-14 mark in Southeastern Conference play. She HEAD COACHING TOTAL 196-146-1 (.573) over 6 seasons also helped the Tigers pick up a pair of SEC West Division titles and make the program’s first- ever NCAA Regional Tournament appearance where it finished second. AT BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN In her first season at LSU, Perry led the Tigers with a .345 batting average, 11 home runs, 40 Year Record Accomplishments runs scored, .416 on-base percentage and .612 slugging percentage. Those numbers helped 2007 25-37 (5-10 Big South) 5th Big South her earn recognition on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region Second 2006 28-21 (7-5 Big South) 4th Big South Team, as well as First-Team All-Louisiana honors and a slot on the SEC’s All-Tournament Team. 2005 25-32 (5-7 Big South) 5th Big South Perry led the team with five homers in 1998 while posting a .324 average with 29 runs scored 2004 25-34 (6-6 Big South) 5th Big South and 38 RBI. Off the field, she was twice named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. 2003 26-32 NCAA Division I Provisional Member Prior to entering the coaching profession, Perry served a two-year internship in the compliance 2002 17-42 NCAA Division I Provisional Member department at LSU. 2001 N/A Establishing program Perry was inducted into the Zachary High School Hall of Fame in her hometown of Zachary, HEAD COACHING TOTAL 146-198 (.424) over 6 seasons Louisiana, in 2007. CAREER TOTAL 521-449-1 (.537) over 17 seasons

ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Second head coach in Illinois history THE PERRY FILE • Led Illinois to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances in her first two seasons, with 2016 marking the first appearance since 2010. DATE OF BIRTH: Sept. 22 • Led the Illini to the fourth-most wins in program history with 39 EDUCATION victories and a top-four finish in the Big Ten in 2017. Louisiana State University B.S. in Kinesiology, 1997 • Led Ball State to the 2015 MAC Tournament title and an NCAA Louisiana State University M.S. in Spors Administration, 1998 Regional berth PLAYING EXPERIENCE • Named the 2014 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year after 1997-98 Louisiana State University leading Ball State to the MAC regular season title in her first season • While at WKU, Perry’s teams won over 25 games each season, COACHING EXPERIENCE including four seasons with 30 or more victories, as well as earning 2001-07 Head Coach, Birmingham-Southern the program’s first-ever appearance in a NCAA Regional along with 2008-13 Head Coach, Western Kentucky posting WKU’s first SBC Regular-Season Championship 2014-15 Head Coach, Ball State • A two-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2009 2015-present Head Coach, University of Illinois • Established the program at Birmingham-Southern and led the Panthers to their first-ever winning season in 2006. MILESTONE VICTORIES First Win: Birmingham-Southern 7, Centenary 6 (Feb. 10, 2002) 100th Win: Birmingham-Southern 19, Stephen F. Austin 1 (Feb. 24, 2006) 200th Win: Western Kentucky 6, North Texas 4 (April 18, 2009) 300th Win: Western Kentucky 9, Murray State 1 (Feb. 15, 2013) 400th Win: Ball State 19, Indiana 9 (April 21, 2015) 500th Win: Illinois 5, Cal Poly 3 (March 17, 2018)

2019 ILLINOIS SOFTBALL // 9 THE COACHING STAFF LAURA TROUT ASSISTANT COACH // FOURTH SEASON Laura Trout enters her fourth year with the Illinois softball program after joining the Fighting Illini as an assistant coach on July 23, 2015. She serves as the hitting coach and works primarily with the infielders.

A former SEC shortstop, Trout came to Champaign- Urbana from George Washington University, where she spent the 2015 season as an assistant coach. In charge of hitting and infield defense, she helped the Colonials to rank in the top 10 in the nation in double plays turned while showing marked improvement in batting average and home runs in her first season on staff.

Prior to arrival in D.C., Trout served as a volunteer assistant for the University of South Carolina for two seasons, helping the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in six years in 2013.

Trout began her college career at Spartanburg Methodist College, where she was a Junior College All-American, participated in two Junior College World Series, and was the Region X Most Valuable Player in 2009. Trout then transferred to the University of Georgia, where she helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2010 Women’s College World Series and a final rank of No. 3 in the nation while receiving the award of Best Defensive Player. The Bulldogs’ starting shortstop, Trout had a breakout season as a senior, hitting .348 to help the Dawgs return to the Super Regionals.

The Summerville, South Carolina, native guided Georgia back to the Super Regionals once again in 2012 as a student assistant coach, while completing her bachelor’s degree in journalism.

In 2012, Trout served as the head coach of the Southern Force 18U Gold travel organization, where she led her team to a seventh-place finish at Premier Nationals. During her season at the held, she coached seven student athletes that would go on to play Division I softball, four of whom competed in the 2015 Women’s College World Series. Additionally, she mentored a pair of Georgia Gatorade Players of the Year, including the National Player of the Year, as well as a Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year.

“Laura has played at the highest level at the University of Georgia,” said Perry. “She was also a key component to the success of the teams she has coached. Laura has a high softball IQ and I’m excited to have her at the University of Illinois.”

Trout graduated Magna Cum Laude from Spartanburg Methodist College with an THE TROUT FILE associates degree in 2009. She then completed her bachelor’s degree in journalism in HOMETOWN Summerville, S.C. 2012 at the University of Georgia, where she was twice named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. EDUCATION Spartanburg Methodist College A.A, Magna Cum Laude, 2009 University of Georgia B.A. in Journalism, 2012

PLAYING EXPERIENCE 2008-09 Spartanburg Methodist College 2010-11 University of Georgia

COACHING EXPERIENCE 2011-12 Student Assistant Coach, Georgia 2012 Head Coach, Southern Force 18U Gold 2012-14 Volunteer Assistant Coach, South Carolina 2014-15 Assistant Coach, George Washington 2015-present Assistant Coach, Illinois

10 // 2019 ILLINOIS SOFTBALL THE COACHING STAFF LANCE MCMAHON ASSISTANT COACH // THIRD SEASON Lance McMahon enters his third year with the Illinois softball program after joining the Fighting Illini as an assistant coach in July of 2016. He serves as the pitching and catching coach for the Illini.

In his first season with the Illini, McMahon helped guide former Illini Breanna Wonderly to NFCA All- Region First-Team and All-Big Ten First-Team accolades, while as a whole, the Illini staff registered a 2.97 team ERA in 2017.

McMahon joined the Illini following a three-year stint with the LSU softball program, where he worked under the tutelage of head coach Beth Torina. While in Baton Rouge, McMahon assisted in almost every aspect of the program, including camps, analyzing video, assisting with practice and throwing batting practice daily and was also responsible for logistics during travel.

While in Baton Rouge, McMahon assisted in almost every aspect of the program, including camps, analyzing video, assisting with practice and throwing batting practice daily and was also responsible for logistics during travel. As a Tiger, McMahon was involved in back-to-back NCAA Regional Softball Championships and two trips to the Women’s College World Series.

Prior to joining the Tigers in January of 2014, McMahon served as the pitching coach for the Wichita Mustangs Softball Organization, where he managed the pitching staff throughout the summer competition and developed workouts to maximize performance.

McMahon graduated with a degree in sport management from Missouri in December 2013, where he served as a student manager and batting practice pitcher for three years. While at Mizzou, he was a part of one Big 12 championship squad, back-to-back NCAA Regional Softball Championships and one trip to WCWS.

Along with his collegiate experience, McMahon also spent time as a volunteer assistant coach for the Knox County high school softball team from 2010 to 2014.

McMahon most recently earned a masters degree in kinesiology from LSU in May of 2016.

THE MCMAHON FILE HOMETOWN Edina, Mo.

EDUCATION University of Missouri B.S. in Sport Management, 2013 LSU M.S. in Kinesiology, 2016

COACHING EXPERIENCE 2010-14 Volunteer Assistant Coach, Knox County HS 2010-13 Student Manager, Missouri 2014-15 Pitching Coach, Wichita Mustangs 2014-16 Graduate Assistant, LSU 2016-present Assistant Coach, Illinois

2019 ILLINOIS SOFTBALL // 11 THE COACHING STAFF TESS SOEFJE VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH // FIRST SEASON

Tess Soefje (Sef-gee) begins her first season as the volunteer assistant coach with the Fighting Illini softball program after joining the staff in July 2018.

Soefje comes to Champaign following two years as a graduate assistant with the Ole Miss softball program, where she assisted in daily bullpen development of pitchers and catchers, mentored players in all aspects of mental preparation for game and off-the-field aspects of college softball and coordinated apparel and equipment management. She also assisted with the director of operations on game day and recruiting events and assisted in management of team travel.

She also served as an assistant coach for the American Freedom Softball Club in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas for five years, and with the United States 18 U team for USA Athletics International during the summer of 2017.

A three-year starter behind the plate for the University of Texas San Antonio, Soefje started 152 games during her career and registered 20 career home runs, while also finishing her career as the NCAA Division I hits-by-pitch per game record holder. She started her collegiate career at the University of Houston, where she saw action in 15 games as a freshman. She was also named an NFCA All-American Scholar and to the Conference USA Honor Roll at both UTSA and Houston.

A native of Frisco, Texas, Soefje graduated UTSA with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2016 and also earned a bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communications from the University of Mississippi in 2018.

SOFTBALL SUPPORT STAFF

Sara Burton TBD TBD Rick Raven Libby Knight Ryan Deppa Senior Associate Athletic Trainer Strength & Equipment Manager Athletics Office Manager Athletic Director Conditioning Communication

Adam Marantz Joel Schmidt Giana O’Connor TBD Annie White Digital Director Fighting Illini Marketing Event Coordinator Academic Advisor Productions

12 // 2019 ILLINOIS SOFTBALL THIS IS ILLINOISADMINISTRATION SOFTBALL DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Illinois alumnus Josh Whitman was hired with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and . as the University’s 14th permanent director of athletics on February 17, 2016. At the Prior to embarking on his career in athletics administration, Whitman practiced law time of his hiring, Whitman, then 37 years in Washington, D.C., with Covington & Burling LLP, a firm with a preeminent sports old, was the youngest athletics director practice that represents, among other clients, the . in the Autonomy 5. In a relatively short Whitman grew up in West Lafayette, Ind., and is married to Hope Whitman. Their time, Whitman’s “We Will Win” mantra and daughter, Tate, was born in 2016. He remains a licensed attorney and is a member of message of unity, optimism, and bold action the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. In July, 2017, Whitman have rekindled the fire in the hearts of Illini was named Central Illinois Business Magazine’s Forty Under 40 Man of the Year. fans everywhere. The Whitmans have become engaged in several Champaign-Urbana community Whitman has formulated an aggressive agenda since his hiring, including launching organizations, including Coaches vs. Cancer, the Tom Jones Challenger League and the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame and planning for a new $79.2 million football Habitat for Humanity. performance center. He has hired six new head coaches, including iconic football coach , who led the Chicago Bears to Super Bowl XLI; Brad Underwood, who has won more than 80 percent of his games in four years as a Division I head coach; and, women’s coach Nancy Fahey, who arrives in Champaign- Urbana having already been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Whitman also restructured the Illinois men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country programs, bringing those six programs under a single, unified coaching structure. Externally, Whitman spearheaded efforts during his first year that culminated in a 27.3 percent increase in DIA fundraising. He has been a visible presence and frequent speaker at Illini events across the country. Internally, Whitman reorganized the department’s leadership structure and created the Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity. Whitman is committed to providing a first-class student-athlete experience, as evidenced through his efforts to connect personally with the Fighting Illini student-athletes on a regular basis and his frequent attendance at teams’ practices and competitions.

COACHES Illinois finished 35th in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings for 2016-17, Whitman’s first full year at the helm, with seven teams finishing their seasons ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Illini men’s golf and gymnastics teams finished third and fourth, respectively, in the final NCAA rankings. In addition, the men’s golf program captured the Big Ten championship. Whitman, a former Academic All-American at Illinois, emphasizes the academic performance of the Fighting Illini student-athletes. In 2016-17, the student-athletes ILLINOIS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HISTORY posted a cumulative GPA of 3.21, with the football and men’s basketball programs 1892-94 Edward K. Hall leading the conference in the total number of Academic All-Big Ten honorees. 1894-95 Fred D. Dodge Prior to coming to Illinois, the 38-year-old Whitman spent nearly six years as an 1895-98 Henry H. Everett athletics director at two universities. He came to Champaign-Urbana following 1898-1901 Jacob K. Shell almost two years as director of athletics at Washington University in St. Louis, 1901-36 George A. Huff a nationally recognized NCAA Division III program with 19 varsity sports and 1936-41 Wendell S. Wilson approximately 500 student-athletes. During Whitman’s tenure, the program posted 1941-66 Douglas R. Mills seven top-five NCAA finishes, a combined GPA of 3.35, and a graduation rate of 1966-67 Leslie Bryan (interim) 99 percent. Before joining Washington University, Whitman served as the director 1967-72 E.E. (Gene) Vance of athletics at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, another of the nation’s 1972 Charles E. Flynn (interim) leading Division III programs. Combined at those two institutions, Whitman’s 1972-79 Cecil N. Coleman teams earned four national titles and 24 top-five team finishes, plus 34 conference championships. 1979 (interim) 1980-88 Neale R. Stoner Whitman has two Illinois degrees. He graduated with Bronze Tablet honors in 2001 1988 Ronald E. Guenther (interim) while earning a bachelor’s degree in finance. In 2008, he graduated summa cum 1988 Dr. Karol A. Kahrs (interim) laude from the Illinois College of Law before serving as a judicial law clerk on the 1988-91 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. While attending law school, he worked 1991-92 Robert Todd (interim) for former Illini athletics director in various administrative capacities 1992-2011 Ronald E. Guenther within the Illinois athletics department. 2011-2015 Michael J. Thomas On the gridiron for the Fighting Illini, Whitman was a four-year starting tight end 2015-2016 Paul Kowalczyk (interim) from 1997-2000 and two-time First Team Academic All-American. He then spent 2016- Josh Whitman parts of four seasons as a player in the National Football League, including stints

2019 ILLINOIS SOFTBALL // 13