Eastern Illinois softball head coach
Tara Archibald has hired Rachel Huggins as an assistant coach for the Panthers softball program. Huggins, a Central Illinois native, joins the EIU staff following a decorated career as both a player and assistant coach at Bradley.
"I am extremely excited to welcome Coach Huggins to our program. Not only is she a very talented and proven hitting coach, she is extremely passionate, a student of the game, an exceptional teacher, and most importantly an incredible person," said Archibald. "Having grown up in central Illinois, she has many ties to the area and has a clear vision of what it will take to continue the exciting growth of EIU Softball and help us compete for OVC Championships!"
Huggins worked six years as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Bradley. During that time Huggins helped the Braves program develop nationally ranked hitting numbers at the plate. During the 2019 season Bradley ranked eighth in the nation in home runs, 13th in slugging percentage, 22nd in scoring and 49th in batting average.
Those numbers were consistent during her tenure on the Bradley staff as the team hit over .300 during the 2020 season and ranked 51st in the NCAA in triples in 2022. Huggins helped coach ten players that earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. In addition Huggins worked with the Bradley infielders and defense with the second in the Missouri Valley Conference in fielding percentage in 2022.
One of Huggins biggest supporters and influences, was respected hitting coach and former Bradley assistant coach Chris Malveaux. Malveaux is now an assistant coach at Tennessee.
"Rachel is a classic example of what a good hearted, blue-collar worker is supposed to be. She started as a walk-on college softball player and became an everyday starter by working and being a sponge in her environment. That has continued into her coaching career as she grows into one of the best hitting coaches across the country," said Malveaux. "There is no doubt that she will contribute to the continued growth of Eastern Illinois Softball!"
Huggins also helped with the academic success of the Bradley program as the team earned NFCA Team Academic Honors during each of her seasons on staff. This past season had ten players earn NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete honors, which ranks as the second most in Bradley program history behind 11 during the 2018-19 season.
Huggins is from Mt. Zion, Illinois and played four seasons at Bradley earning her bachelor's degree in 2016. As a senior she earned second team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors hitting a school record 12 home runs with 39 RBI. Huggins would later coach four players who tied or passes her single season home run total.
