Jacksonville – MacMurray College announced the hiring of Ms. Shelley Whitaker as the new Head Softball Coach and Sports Information Director. The announcement was made Friday by Dr. Parris Watts, Vice President of Academic Affairs.

     Ms. Whitaker will be relocating to Jacksonville from Georgia where she has been the head softball coach at LaGrange College for three seasons.

     She has previously been accountable for all aspects of an NCAA III softball program including budget, game scheduling, academic monitoring, field preparation, facility management, recruiting, practices, camps/clinics, and player development.

     As the head coach at LaGrange College, Ms. Whitaker coached six All-American and fourteen 1st team All-Conference players. On her teams were nine Academic All-Americans and eighteen Academic All-Conference players.

     Originally from the Toledo, Ohio area, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education at University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio and a Master of Education degree with a concentration in secondary education at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.

     Following her departure from LaGrange College Ms. Whitaker worked for the Tybee Island YMCA and taught at the secondary school level in the Atlanta area.

     She will officially assume the duties in her new dual role at MacMurray August 1st.

     Located in Jacksonville, Ill., MacMurray College is a private, four-year, liberal arts, coeducational college, founded in 1846, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Its friendly, informal environment stresses academic excellence, personal attention, career experience, and well-rounded development of each individual