Bringing Starkville High School’s softball program back to prominence just isn’t a big enough goal for new coach Brittany Tillery.
“I want to make softball fun to watch here in the community, not just something to do,” said Tillery, a 2005 graduate of the school. “I want younger kids, kids coming up, to feel passionate about softball, not just the softball program at Starkville High, but the softball program in the city.”
Tillery speaks from experience, and she would like nothing more than to be a part of bringing the experience she had to young people in the city today.
“It’s home,” she said of Starkville. “I grew up here in this community, and it’s time for softball to be one of the most prominent sports around here again.
“When I was younger, softball was really, really big. There was a lot of softball being played at the park, tournaments being played, and as we’ve gotten older softball has been pushed to the back burner.”
Softball never has been on the back burner for Tillery. When she was getting her degree in sports management from Delta State University, she was an all-Gulf South Conference outfielder, a Division II All-America candidate and the university’s athlete of the year in 2009.
She became a coach after graduation and has been an assistant softball coach at Madison Central High School and head coach at Germantown High School. Most recently, she has coached at Mississippi Valley State University, where she earned a masters in sports management.
“I’m excited to return home to Starkville to lead Yellow Jacket softball,” Tillery said. “I’m committed to building a program of excellence for our softball players and community, and I can’t wait to get to work.”
“Coach Tillery brings 12 years of hands-on coaching experience at the high school and collegiate level, along with a passion for excellence and a commitment to hard work that should be contagious for all of our Yellow Jacket community,” said Greg Owen, Starkville’s athletic director.
Tillery feels ready, not just because of her experience but because of the coaches she played for and worked with while she gained that experience.
“My mom and Wendy Gibson coached me when I was in high school,” she said. “I’ve been a coach for 12 years, but in the past six or seven I’ve had to grow up and mature in coaching.”
She cited David Kuhn, who has more than 700 wins at Delta State and and the University of Central Arkansas; Dale Reese, owner of Mississippi Elite softball in the Jackson area; and Lee Smith, associate athletic director at Mississippi Valley State and nine-time Southwestern Athletic Conference softball coach of the year who just stepped down after 19 seasons.
There will be a bit of a learning curve returning to the high school game, but Tillery’s enthusiasm is ready now.
“I don’t know much about the program,” admitted Tillery. “I haven’t paid attention to a lot of high school sports since I’ve been coaching college. The thing they always say is softball here is not what it used to be, and that’s I guess what kept tugging on my heart.”
And that heart is fully invested both in the sport of softball and in the city of Starkville, and Tillery sees no reason to separate the two.
“Not just at Starkville High, but throughout the community, I believe that if we bring softball back to the community, Starkville High will benefit from it greatly.”
Getting young players to be as enthusiastic about the sport could be a challenge, as Tillery notes the closest travel ball organization is more than an hour from Starkville. But she is ready to be an evangelist for the game.
“I love softball so much,” Tillery said. “I record games and watch old games. Softball is one of those things that has always meant home for me. I can bring my passion for softball back to my hometown. I am nervous and excited because I have so many ideas and so many expectations for this program.”
It’s almost too bad it’s not yet softball season.
“If i’m going to do this, I’m going to do this wholeheartedly and do it the right way,” Tillery said. “I am so ready.”
Tryout information
Tryouts for Starkville High School softball will be held Thursday, Aug. 12 and Friday, Aug. 13. Seventh- and eighth-grade players will be from 4-6 p.m., and freshman through seniors will be from 6:15-8:15 p.m. at the softball field.
Tillery said it is extremely important that interested players show up to the tryouts, and they can email her with any questions at [email protected]
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