Chicago Bandits Release

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Chicago Bandits, a member of the National Pro Fastpitch league, announced the addition of Illinois softball assistant coach Lance McMahon to its coaching staff for the 2019 season, team officials announced on Friday (February 8).

"I would thank the entire Bandits organization for an amazing opportunity this upcoming summer," said McMahon. "I not only look forward to working with the best athletes in the world but also growing as a coach and growing the sport of softball at the professional level. I am beyond excited to represent the University of Illinois on this stage and compete for an NPF title!"

Currently in his third season as the pitching and catching coach for the Illini, McMahon oversaw a pitching staff which posted a 2.97 team ERA in 2017 and helped guide former Illini and Bandits right-hander Breanna Wonderly to NFCA First Team All­-Region and First Team All-Big Ten honors.

"We are excited to welcome Lance aboard our coaching staff for 2019," Bandits general manager Toni Calmeyn said. "He has the knowledge and experience to bring the best out of our pitchers and we can't wait to have him join us this summer in Rosemont."

Prior to his tenure at Illinois, McMahon coached at LSU for three years under head coach Beth Torina. While with the Tigers, he assisted in many aspects of the program, including camps, throwing daily batting practice, analyzing video, and helped lead LSU to back-­to-­back NCAA Regional Championships and two berths to the Women's College World Series.

One of the highlights of McMahon's stint in Baton Rouge came in 2015 when LSU started the campaign on a 25­0 stretch. The Tigers spent three weeks as the top-­ranked team in the country en route to a 52-­14 record and a third-place finish in the Women's College World Series.

At the conclusion of the 2015 season, McMahon and the LSU coaching staff earned Division I South Region Staff of the Year honors from the NFCA.

The NPF season starts in late May with it set to conclude in August with the 2019 NPF Championship series starting August 15. The Bandits home schedule can be found HERE.

About the Chicago Bandits
Since 2005, the Chicago Bandits have been members of the National Pro Fastpitch league. Entering their 15th season as a franchise, the Bandits have provided the Chicago area with high-level softball talent and entertainment en route to capturing six regular-season titles and four Cowles Cup championships, the most recent coming during the 2016 campaign. Located in Rosemont, the Bandits play at Parkway Bank Sports Complex, one of the premier softball facilities in the nation. Parkway Bank Sports Complex is the only stadium in the country built exclusively for a women's professional softball team. The Bandits provide an opportunity for female fastpitch softball players to further their careers at the professional level and have included legendary figures such as Jennie Finch, Tammy Williams and Stacy May-Johnson.

About the NPF
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn.  The league, created to give elite female fast pitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women's fast pitch softball since 2002.

For more Fighting Illini softball news, stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com and follow @IlliniSB on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook.