A Johnson City, Tenn. native returns home to help coach the Bucs

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 4, 2015) – ETSU head softball coach Brad Irwin announced Friday the addition of the Johnson City, Tenn. native, Ashleigh Jackson, to the team’s coaching staff. Jackson, who was a five-year varsity starter at Science Hill High School, brings collegiate and professional playing and coaching experience to the Buccaneers.

“I am extremely excited to add Ashleigh Jackson to our staff,” said Irwin. “Ashleigh brings a great variety of experience playing and coaching to our program. Playing and coaching in an international professional league, coaching at the college level and her time as a private instructor have prepared Ashleigh well to bring her knowledge of the game to our program. Ashleigh has tremendous passion for softball and an infectious personality that makes her a great fit for our Buccaneer Softball family and our student-athletes will benefit from having her on our staff.”

Jackson is excited for the opportunity to coach her hometown team.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to join Coach Irwin and the Buc Softball program,” said Jackson. “I have always been a fan of ETSU softball and getting to coach in my hometown has been a dream of mine. I can’t wait to get started.”

Jackson comes to ETSU after serving as a player/coach for the Vienna Wanderers, which is a professional team in Austria. The Johnson City, Tenn. native played and coached two seasons for the team, while earning the league’s best pitcher award after turning in a 0.67 ERA and competing for the Austrian National Team in a World Cup Qualifying Tournament.

In addition to coaching overseas, Jackson has also made coaching stops at Coker College (assistant coach) and Fort Mills Middle School (Head Coach). She has also been an instructor at the Rock Hill Hitting Facility (2009-2012) and RBI Tri-Cities in Johnson City.

During her collegiate playing days, Jackson played for Wright State University and Winthrop University. Jackson played and pitched for the Raiders from 2007-09. Jackson homered in her first collegiate at-bat and finished her sophomore season ranked second in the Horizon League with 11 victories in the circle.

Following her sophomore season, Jackson transferred to Winthrop where she graduated in 2011 with a degree in communications and a minor in coaching. While with the Eagles, Jackson led the team in home runs (6) and RBI (26) her junior season.

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