Mark Redburn continues to raise the level of expectations as head coach of the University of Evansville softball team. After inheriting a 2009 squad with only four conference and 14 total wins on the season, Redburn continues to build a program that finished 2
nd at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
Despite a season that allowed only a total of 53 games, the 2013 Aces had their best season during Redburn’s four years at the helm. Coming into the conference tournament as the #7 seed, the Aces beat the #6, #3, and #2 seeds to advance to their first MVC Championship since 2003. Despite a 2-1 loss, three Aces were named to the All-Tournament team - Kayla Fortner, Sarah Patterson and Tamara Robey.
The 2013 season resulted in the most overall wins in a season since 2008, and the best regular and conference tournament finish since Coach Redburn’s arrival. The Aces continued their aggressiveness on the bases with 89 stolen bags, finishing 2
nd in the conference. Tamara Robey set the UE single season stolen base record with 33 swipes. The pitching staff finished fourth in the conference in Team Pitching and was led by Sarah Patterson’s 16 wins and 2.50 ERA. Earlier in the season, Patterson threw a “perfect game” at Wichita State.
UE also had an outstanding season in the classroom finishing with an overall team GPA of 3.339 and seven players with a 3.5 or higher. Halie Malone and Kayla Fortner received academic All-Conference honors.
The 2012 season included more wins than the 2011 season and a trip to the conference tournament. It also established the “Running Game” that Coach Redburn utilizes as the Aces stole 79 bases. Freshman Kayla Fortner and sophomore Katie Sears were named Second-Team All-MVC honorees.
In addition to that honor, Kayla was also named to the NFCA All-Region Second Team. The top three hitters for the Aces included newly recruited freshman Kayla Fortner, Victoria Dellorto, and sophomore Katie Sears. In the classroom the aces again performed well with a team GPA of 3.287 while having eight players achieve a GPA over 3.500.
In 2011 Coach Redburn prepared one of the most difficult schedules in program history. Despite youth and inexperience, the Aces played teams such as Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Ohio State, Texas Tech (3 games), South Alabama, and UT-Chattanooga. Despite the tough season, the team was exposed to top programs so that the UE players could witness and compete first hand against some of the best teams in the country.
“This is a level of greatness that we expect in the near future,” said Redburn.
Jen Stahlhut earned All-MVC honors both on the field and in the classroom. Allison Aguilera also received All-Academic honors. Combined, the team had a GPA of 3.149 while having four players earn a 3.5 or higher.
In Redburn’s first season, 2010, he quickly began to transform the program. The product of the rebuilding year was an 18-34 record with 10 conference wins and a spot in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The 2010 squad won more games during both the regular season and in conference play than in the previous season. As a result, they qualified for the conference tournament, again something that they did not achieve the previous year. UE was first in the conference in doubles with 31, and were lead by 2
nd team All-Conference selection – Jen Stahlhut with 8. The team also hit 36 Home Runs, lead by 1
st team All-Conference
selection - Amy Gaertner with 11.
Since his arrival at UE, Coach Redburn has had 5 players earn All-Conference honors, 3 players recognized as MVC Players of the Week, and 6 earn Scholar Athlete All-Conference honors. While at the University of Missouri, Redburn coached four different All-Conference pitchers including USA National Team pitcher - Chelsea Thomas, and was part of an MU coaching staff that received NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the year honors in 2009. During his four seasons as a Junior College Head Coach he had numerous All-Conference, All-Region selections, four All-Americans, and received “Coach of the Year” honors in two seasons.
No stranger to success, Redburn came to UE after serving three years as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Missouri. Primarily working with the pitchers and catchers, Redburn helped lead the Tigers to an overall record of 137-53 during his stint. In his final season at Missouri, Redburn and the 2009 squad set a school record for victories (50), finished second in the Big 12 Conference regular season, won the Big 12 Conference Tournament, won their Regional, and defeated host UCLA in the Super Regional to advance to the College World Series.
Redburn began his collegiate coaching career as head coach at St. Charles (Mo.) Community College from 2001-2004. He led the 2003 team to its first Region 16 championship and a seventh place finish at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. His 2004 squad set a school record with 33 victories. He spent the next two years as head coach of the new softball program at Jefferson College. In the program’s first year of competition, 2006, he led Jefferson to a 49-16 record, the Region 16 championship, and a ninth place finish at the NJCAA D-I National Tournament.
A native of St. Charles, Mo., Redburn graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and later received his master’s degree in Athletics/Activities Administration. He and his wife, Tracy, have two sons—Joe and Jack.
