Rachel Houck (how-k) joined the Fighting Illini Softball staff in August 2022 as the director of operations.
She headed to Illinois following four years - two as a graduate assistant and two as an assistant coach - at Eastern Illinois.
Across Houck’s four seasons at EIU, the Panthers racked up 78 wins as she worked primarily with the hitters and outfielders. EIU improved in nearly every offensive category under Houck’s guidance. During the 2021 season, EIU ranked 20th in the nation with 1.27 home runs per game in addition to ranking 41st in NCAA Softball with a .480 collective slugging percentage – both were program records. The Panthers also ranked 29th across the nation averaging 1.75 stolen bases per game.
Most recently in 2022, EIU broke the school record in doubles, walks, on-base percentage, runs scored and RBI on the way to a 25-win season.
With Houck on staff, Panther student-athletes collected seven all-conference accolades, three NFCA All-Region honors, an OVC Player of the Year and All-Newcomer Team recognition.
Prior to her time at Eastern Illinois, Houck was a volunteer coach at Ball State in 2017 and helped the team to a 37-19 record and MAC West division title.
The Greenfield, Indiana, native began her collegiate career at Louisville during the 2014 campaign. Houck went on to graduate from Ball State after playing the 2015-17 seasons with the Cardinals and plastered her name all over the single-season and career lists in the record book. She earned second team NFCA All-Region as a senior along with MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors. Additionally, Houck was a three-time Academic All-MAC honoree.
During the 2015 campaign at Ball State, Houck and Perry overlapped and helped the Cardinals to a 34-25 record including a MAC Tournament championship. Their squad was sent to the 2015 NCAA Regional in South Bend, Indiana, and earned the first NCAA win in program history – a 6-3 win over Notre Dame.
Houck earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Ball State in 2017 and her master’s degree in business administration from Eastern Illinois in 2020.
