Megan Mattingly enters her first season at Illinois after being named the program's director of operations on Aug. 1, 2025.
"We are thrilled to welcome Megan to our staff!" Perry said. "Having grown up immersed in the Fighting Illini sports culture, she brings a deep passion for the game and a strong connection to our community. Her dedication and competitive spirit were evident during her playing days, and we are confident that she will bring that same drive and excellence to this new role."
Mattingly returns to her home state and joins the Fighting Illini after spending the last three years working at Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Indiana. While there, she served as the head softball coach while working within the physical education/strength and conditioning department from 2022-25. Mattingly also held roles as an assistant volleyball coach from 2023-24 and assisted with graphic design in 2024. She was the Southridge Middle School athletic director during the 2022-23 academic year.
During the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Mattingly was a regional site representative at the University of Oklahoma, acting as the NCAA's on-site liaison while collaborating with athletic directors to ensure full compliance with tournament policies, procedures, and game day operations during NCAA Regionals. In that role, she also coordinated communication between NCAA staff, the host institution, teams, officials, and media to ensure smooth event execution; oversaw game day logistics including team arrivals, facility readiness, credential distribution, and schedule adherence; and resolved real-time issues related to weather delays, protocol enforcement, and team logistics while maintaining professionalism and NCAA standards.
A native of Danville, Illinois, Mattingly – née Megan Burton – played softball at the Division I level at Eastern Illinois, where she competed from 2018-22. As a senior in 2021, she earned OVC Player of the Year, All-OVC First Team, OVC Scholar Athlete of the Year, and NFCA All-Mideast Region First Team honors. Across her five-year career with the Panthers, Mattingly played in 220 games, making 218 starts, while hitting .302 with 212 hits, 151 runs scored, 115 RBI, 74 stolen bases, 55 walks, and 46 doubles. She was tabbed an All-OVC Second Team selection as a sophomore in 2019.
Mattingly graduated from EIU with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and sports studies in 2020 before getting her master's in educational leadership in 2022.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to work for the University of Illinois," Mattingly said. "I am excited to be a part of Illinois Softball and the strong culture that is embedded within the program. This is home, and I am truly excited to be part of the FamILLy."
