Illini softball head coach Tyra Perry has announced the addition of softball veteran Vann Stuedeman as Illinois’ next pitching coach on Aug. 25, 2022. The former Mississippi State head coach spent nearly two decades in the SEC, also serving as an assistant coach at Alabama prior to her arrival in Champaign.

Stuedeman led the Mississippi State program for the 2012-19 campaigns compiling an overall record of 275-190 across those eight seasons. Under her leadership, the Bulldogs appeared in seven NCAA Tournaments and won 33 or more games in seven of Stuedeman’s eight seasons in Starkville.

Prior to her arrival in Starkville, Stuedeman helped Alabama claim three SEC regular-season titles en route to reaching the Women’s College World Series six times.

As an assistant coach since 2001, Stuedeman helped the Crimson Tide go 579-150 from 2000-11 (.794), including a sparkling 243-70 record in SEC play. Stuedeman anchored a staff that had an ERA under 2.00 in eight of her 11 campaigns, struck out an average of 485 batters per season and held opponents scoreless in 221 games.

Prior to joining Alabama, Stuedeman coached at West Alabama, Alabama-Huntsville and East Limestone High School. In her stop at Division II Alabama – Huntsville, Stuedeman was reunited with her sister, Les, the head coach of the Chargers’ softball program.

The Birmingham, Ala., area native graduated in 1994 from Huntingdon College, where she helped the Hawks to two third-place finishes at the national tournament (1992 and 1994). The 1994 All-American was inducted into her alma mater’s Hall of Fame on Oct. 8, 2011. 
 

COACHING CAREER
Graduate Assistant, West Alabama, 1995-96
Assistant Coach, Alabama-Huntsville, 1997-99
Head Coach, East Limestone County HS, 1999-2000
Assistant Coach, Alabama, 2000-11
Head Coach, Mississippi State, 2011-19
Assistant Coach, Illinois, Aug. 2022-present

PLAYING CAREER
Vestavia Hills HS, 1986-90
Huntington College, 1991-94

Last updated August 2022