CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head coach Tyra Perry and the Illinois softball program have announced the addition of Madyson Moran as the newest volunteer assistant coach for the Fighting Illini softball coaching staff on Wednesday (September 20).
Moran comes to Champaign after a successful four-year career as an infielder for James Madison Univiersity in Harrisonburg, Va., where she garnered National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First-Team All-Northeast Region and All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Second-Team honors in her final season as well as being named a candidate for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award.
"Maddy was a strong competitor at James Madison and she has recently worked with top Illinois travel organization, The Beverly Bandits. Her hard nosed, winner mindset will be an immediate asset to our program," said Perry. "She will primarily be working with our infielders and hitters. We are happy Maddy has decided to join our staff."
"I could not be more excited to be a part of the coaching staff here, at the University of Illinois," said Moran. "The culture this team has developed has carried through the years and I am now part of a group of girls who wants to win championships, be a family and work hard. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with such amazing coaches who want to make their players the best athletes they can be, as well as the best people they can be. The Illinois softball mentality, from the coaches to the players to the fans and in the community, makes this program something special and I am excited to partake in this upcoming season any way that I can."
While at JMU, Moran helped lead the Dukes to back-to-back CAA championships in 2016 and 2017, while also making NCAA Regional appearances all four years, including helping JMU become the first CAA team ever to host an NCAA Super Regional in 2015.
The CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient played in all but one contest during her time in Harrisonburg, starting all but one of those games, and finished her career with a .290 batting average. She totaled 131 hits - including 22 doubles, three triples and 14 home runs – as well as 101 runs, 87 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Defensively, she registered a .969 fielding percentage with 248 putouts in her four years.
Along with her collegiate experience, Moran also spent time as an assistant coach within the Beverly Bandits Softball Organization and was also a camp counselor for the Mickey Dean Softball Camps in Harrisonburg.
Moran graduated JMU with a bachelor's degree in sports and recreation management with a minor in general business in the spring of 2017.
Moran and the Illini kick off fall ball on September 30-October 1 with the Illini Fall Classic I & II, taking on Heartland Community College and Bradley on Saturday and Illinois State and Parkland College on Sunday.
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