Hall Adds Yolanda McRae as Assistant Softball Coach
June 6, 2026 | Softball
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head softball coach Jenna Hall announced the first addition to her staff on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Yolanda McRae as an assistant coach.
"I could not be more excited to have Yolanda join our coaching staff," said Hall.
"As a coach, Yolanda has worked at the highest level with some of the best hitters in the game. Her proven track record of developing elite hitters is undeniable. The energy and passion she has for softball is infectious and I have no doubt our student-athletes will grow under leadership. She aligns with every part of our mission to help these young women become the absolute best versions of themselves, both on and off the field. Welcome to the famILLy, Yolanda!"
McRae joins the Fighting Illini staff with a wealth of experience, including six seasons at Arkansas as an assistant coach. While with the Razorbacks, McRae was part of the coaching staff that captured NFCA South Region Staff of the Year honors in 2021, on the heels of the program's first SEC regular-season title. She served as hitting coach and oversaw one of the most powerful offenses in Arkansas history, as they set new program single-season records in home runs (95) and slugging percentage (.505). Under her tutelage, infielders Braxton Burnside and Danielle Gibson were both named NFCA All-Americans.
Prior to her time at Arkansas, McRae had coaching stints at Georgia (2006, 2014), Georgia Tech (2007-09), Maryland (2010-11, 2015), and Virginia (2012-13). In seven of those ten seasons as an assistant her teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament, including two Super Regional appearances, one at Georgia and one at Georgia Tech. At each stop McRae has led increased offensive production, including a national-best 96 home runs for the Yellow Jackets in 2007, and a 40-point improvement in batting average during her first year at Maryland.
"I'm floored by this opportunity," shared McRae. "I can't thank Coach Hall, Josh Whitman, Sara Burton, and Ryan Squire enough for trusting me to take on this role."
"There are coaches you respect, and coaches you go out of your way to work beside and be led by. Jenna Hall is exactly that. She lives with integrity, builds with purpose, and wins in a way that everyone can be proud of. What you see is what you get, and what you get is exceptional.
"The opportunity to join her staff, compete in the Big Ten conference, and help build something meaningful at Illinois checked every box for me. I am honored, grateful, and ready to work."
McRae played for two seasons at Georgia State (2002-03) before transferring to Georgia for the final two years of her collegiate career (2003-04). In 2003, she was part of Georgia's first-ever SEC regular-season title. A native of Dublin, Georgia, McRae graduated from Georgia in 2004 with her degree in kinesiology.
