MacMurray Names New Softball Coach
The MacMurray Highlanders appointed Samantha Valentine, of Jacksonville, IL, as the new women’s softball coach. According to Justin Fuhler, athletic director, “Samantha will be a great fit to lead our softball program. She brings her experience as a former Division I softball player, and, as a native of Jacksonville, she has a connection to the area where she has been a standout player and coach,” Fuhler added. “Sam has built Brown County softball into one of the top programs in the area,” he continued. “I am confident that she will be able to build on the success that MacMurray softball has had recently. We are excited to be adding her to the MacMurray Athletic Department.”
As head softball coach at Brown County High for the past six years, Valentine’s teams have been increasingly more completive, having won two regional championships and advancing to the sectional championship once during her tenure. Several of her former players have gone on to compete at the collegiate level. She is the recipient of Illinois All-Star Coach 2015 and Coach of the Year 2013 honors.
Prior to coaching at Brown County High School, Valentine was the assistant softball coach at John Wood Community College for one season. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education and a Master of Science in elementary education, both from Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL.
STORY COURTESY OF MacMURRAY SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE
