Jan. 29, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
For 24 years, Illinois State softball pitchers have been under the watchful eye of pitching coach Bill Kennedy. Now, those pitchers will have a new mentor, as Kennedy officially announced his retirement as assistant softball coach at Illinois State, head coach Melinda Fischer announced Thursday.
Former Illinois State softball All-American pitcher Shannon Nicholson has been named as Kennedy's successor as the Redbird softball program's pitching coach. Nicholson will assume those duties for the duration of the spring season.
"I'm certainly going to miss the people, coaches and student-athletes that I worked with on a day-to-day basis," said Kennedy. "It has been a great privilege to get to be around student-athletes and coaches at this level who are so talented with what they do. It was an honor to have coached at this level and to have worked for Illinois State and Redbird student-athletes for as long as I did."
"Bill has had a tremendous impact on Illinois State softball over the last 24 years," said Fischer. "There are not enough words to describe the impact and contribution he has had on the Redbird softball program. He has done an excellent job of mentoring pitchers from all skill levels into being some of the best athletes in the Missouri Valley Conference.
"As a former teacher and principal, Bill has an excellent ability to teach young athletes how to live up to their athletic potential. It has been a true pleasure getting to work with him over the last 24 years."
Kennedy began coaching at Illinois State the same year that Fischer became the Redbirds' head coach: 1986. Kennedy's honors and accomplishments as a collegiate softball pitching coach are rivaled by few at the NCAA Division I level.
Kennedy has mentored a total of four All-Americans; five National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region First- or Second-Team members; three Missouri Valley Conference Softball Players of the Year; one Valley Rookie of the Year; and 21 All-Missouri Valley Conference First- or Second-Team honorees. He was also a member of Illinois State's 2006 coaching staff, which was named The Valley Coaching Staff of the Year, as well as the NFCA/Speedline Coaching Staff of the Year.
Illinois State Director of Athletics Dr. Sheahon Zenger is appreciative of Kennedy's dedication to Redbird softball and to ISU Athletics.
"I would like to thank Bill for his 24 years of service, for his commitment to Illinois State Athletics and for his dedication to Redbird softball," said Zenger. "He has obviously left his mark with our pitchers over the years, as a legendary softball pitcher himself. I wish Bill and his wife, Connie, nothing but the best in retirement."
From 2000-08, Illinois State's pitching staff, under the direction of Kennedy, posted a combined 2.03 ERA. ISU's 1.42 team ERA in 2003 was the team's lowest since the 1987 season. In all, Illinois State softball pitchers have set 11 team season records under Kennedy, including the most wins in a single-season (46 - 1995), the lowest opponent batting average (.188 - 2003) and the most strikeouts per seven innings (7.31 - 2003).
A former standout pitcher for the national Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) power Bloomington Hearts, Kennedy honed his softball coaching skills while he earned more than 600 pitching victories from 1960-84 with the Hearts. He also managed the Hearts from 1985-89. Kennedy is a member of the Illinois Softball Hall of Fame.
Finesse, coupled with experience, were Kennedy's markers for success throughout his 24 years coaching the Illinois State pitchers. In 2007, one of Kennedy's mentees, Nicholson, became the latest Redbird pitcher to earn All-America plaudits, as the then-senior made a courageous comeback from a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in her right knee midway through the season to lead all ISU pitchers with a 21-8 record and a team-best 1.53 ERA.
Another of Kennedy's mentees, Stacy Birk, earned Valley Rookie of the Year honors in 2004, picking up where Audra Rast left off as Valley Pitcher of the Year in 2002 and 2003.
Kennedy, who retired as a principal and teacher in the Heyworth School District after 30 years of service, earned both his undergraduate and master's degrees from Illinois State.
