The Illinois softball team made a high-profile addition to their coaching staff on Tuesday, hiring World Champion Jeremy Manley. 

Manley spent 2013 and 2014 as the assistant varsity softball coach at Tri-Valley High School in Downs, IL, about 45 miles northwest of Champaign-Urbana. He won the 2013 ISF World Series with the Black Sox, the New Zealand men’s national team. He was named the tournament’s most valuable pitcher and was previously named the MVP of the New Zealand men’s Open Club Championship.

Downs has directed pitching for the 18U Black Sox, New Zealand’s junior national team and has also previously coached an the 18U BNGSA Angels in Bloomington, IL. Manley is familiar with the Big Ten, as his wife, Ali (nee Arnold) was an All-Big Ten pitcher and is sixth in school history with 469 career strikeouts. Manley will join the current Illinois coaching staff of head coach Terri Sullivan and assistant coaches Donna DiBiase and Katie O’Connell.

Peter is a sophomore in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @pbaileywells22.