The Illinois Fighting Illini softball is the team that represents University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in NCAA Division I college softball. The team currently participates in the Big Ten Conference. The Fighting Illini are currently led by their head coach Jenna Hall. The team plays its home games at Eichelberger Field located on the university's campus.
On June 2, 2026, the team announced Jenna Hall as its third head coach in team history. Hall was the team's first NFCA All-American and holds the team's single-season batting average record at .481.
History
Year-by-year results Season Coach Record Notes Overall Conference 2000 Terri Sullivan 13-17 Played as NCAA Division I independent 2001 49-23 12-8 3rd in Big Ten Tournament 2002 34-24 10-9 4th in Big Ten Tournament 2003 39-17-1 11-7 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament; NCAA Regionals 2004 45-21-1 14-6 Big Ten Tournament Runner-Up; NCAA Regional Final; Final Rank #17 2005 24-26 4-14 2006 24-31 8-11 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament 2007 30-25 7-8 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament 2008 30-32 8-12 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament 2009 29-17 12-7 NCAA Regionals 2010 45-8 16-2 NCAA Regionals; Final Rank #25 2011 27-22 9-8 2012 27-26 12-9 2013 22-27 5-11 T-9th in Big Ten Tournament 2014 24-26 13-6 T-5th in Big Ten Tournament 2015 26-27 6-10 5th in Big Ten Tournament 2016 Tyra Perry 36-23 12-11 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA Regionals 2017 39-20 14-8 Big Ten Tournament Semifinals; NCAA Regional Final 2018 37-18 13-8 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals 2019 33-25 9-14 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA Regionals 2020 11-11 0-0 Season cancelled/shortened due to COVID-19 pandemic 2021 24-20 24-20 2022 34-22 15-7 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals; NCAA Regionals 2023 29-27 6-16 Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals 2024 21-31 7-15 T-9th in Big Ten Tournament 2025 22-28 6-15 2026 14–36 3-17 2027 Jenna Hall
Coaching history
2000–2015 Terri Sullivan 487-368-2 2016–2026 Tyra Perry 301-264 2027-Present Jenna Hall Reference:
Coaching staff Jenna Hall Head coach 1st Yolanda McRae Assistant coach 1st Jeremy Manley Assistant coach 1st Lilli Piper Assistant Coach 1st Madi McCrady Director of Player Development 1stReference:
Notable players
Awards Big Ten Coach of the Year Terri Sullivan, 2010
NFCA All-Americans Meredith Hackett, 2010 (First Team) Jenna Hall, 2006 (First Team) Nicole Evans, 2017 (Third Team) Danielle Zymkowitz, 2009, 2011 (Third Team)
Notable Individual School Records
Career Records
Most Games Played: Lindsey Hamma (2001-04) - 254 Highest Batting Average (min 250 at–bats): Danielle Zymkowitz (2008-11) – .384 Most Home Runs: Nicole Evans (2014-17) - 53 Most Hits: Danielle Zymkowitz (2008-11) - 277 Most Stolen Bases: Danielle Zymkowitz (2008-11) - 91 Most Pitching Wins: Amanda Fortune (2001-04) - 80 Most Strikeouts: Sydney Sickels (2019-23) - 714 Lowest ERA: Amanda Fortune (2001-04) - 1.50
Single–Season Records
Most At-Bats: Erin Jones (2001) - 233 Most RBI's: Angelena Mexicano (2008) - 62 Most Home Runs: Angelena Mexicano (2008) - 24 Most Hits: Kiana Sherlund (2018) - 81 Highest Batting Average: Jenna Hall (2006) - .481 Most Stolen Bases: Danielle Zymkowitz (2010) - 36 Most Pitching Wins: Amanda Fortune (2004) - 31 Most Strikeouts: Monica Perry (2009) - 223 Lowest ERA: Amanda Fortune (2004) - 1.24
References
External links