STARKVILLE, Miss. --- Tusculum College softball head coach Fred Gillum had an article published in the latest issue of Fastpitch Delivery, the official publication of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Gillum's article, "Division II Experience Is a Whole Different
Animal" focuses on the DII perspective upon softball
recruiting.
Coach Gillum just completed his sixth year at the helm of the
Tusculum softball program.
Gillum took over the program in December 2006 and orchestrated one
of the best turnarounds in the program's history. He inherited a
program that went 18-32-1 a year before and posted an 11-win
improvement going 29-25 in 2007. The 29 victories equaled the most
wins in a season since Tusculum reclassified to the NCAA Division
II level at the time.
The program reached new heights in 2011, finishing with a 32-17 record that represented the Pioneers' highest win total since 1995. Along the way, the Pioneers defeated three nationally-ranked opponents, including second-ranked North Georgia to snap the Saints' 40-game home winning streak and eventual NCAA Division II runner-up Alabama Huntsville, the Chargers' lone loss in its first 42 games of the season.
In 2012, the Pioneers matched their total of 32 wins and opened the conference schedule with eight consecutive victories. Tusculum also hosted the South Atlantic Conference Tournament and won two games en route to a fourth-place finish in the league postseason.
He has mentored five All-South Atlantic Conference standouts since his arrival on the Greeneville campus, including Chrissy Wilkison (1st Team in 2007), Ashley Basilicato (2nd Team in 2008), Taylor MacDonald (2nd Team in 2011), Elizabeth Johnson (1st Team in 2012) and Kaytlin Stroinski (1st Team in 2012). Gillum also claimed an All-Region selection in 2011 as Johnson was a second-team honoree.
Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference which is comprised of 10 colleges and universities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.
- TC -
