| Title: | Associate Director of Athletics/Head Softball Coach |
| Phone: | 706-880-8343 |
| Email: | mrushing@lagrange.edu |
| College: | University of Redlands | University of Denver | Jacksonville University |
Mel Rushing is in her second year as Associate Director of Athletics and Head Softball Coach at LaGrange College in 2022-23.
Rushing comes to LaGrange after a four-year coaching sabbatical during which she founded Mental Sweet Spot, a company that helps softball coaches and teams train the mental component to win more games and have more fun.
Her recent experience includes producing a successful podcast with over 100,000 downloads; running virtual bootcamps; helping coaches build an actionable blueprint for their team culture; creating resources and working with coaches to develop confident, mentally tough teams; and creating curriculum for player mental training programs.
A member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, small business owner and former member of the Athletics-Admissions Advancement Committee, she hopes to utilize her training and experience to improve recruitment, retention and overall performance within the team, department and college as a whole.
"I want to thank President Baxter and Athletic Director Olds for this amazing opportunity," said Rushing. "I know I will be a part of something special here with Olds' vision for an even greater department.
"I was looking for a position where I could help grow strong, confident students, athletes and people. Most importantly, I wanted a place where my husband and I could raise our three boys in a supportive community, surrounded by athletes and other impactful leaders. LaGrange most certainly offers both, and I cannot wait to get there."
Rushing previously served as head softball coach, event manager and sport psychology professor at Division III Kalamazoo College in Michigan. In just her first season, her team attained its highest conference finish in 15 years. The group set single-season team records in batting average, runs, hits, home runs and stolen bases. By her third year, the squad achieved the second-most wins in program history with a top-20 strength of schedule in the country. Her unit also produced a first-team all-conference player for the first time since 1998 and the first second-team player since 2004.
Prior to Kalamazoo, Rushing was a graduate assistant coach at Div. I Jacksonville University in Florida. Before that, she served as an instructor and coach at HitStreak Fastpitch in Colorado. She also assisted programs at Div. III University of Redlands and Div. II California State University, San Bernardino.
As a player, she started and won conference all four seasons at Redlands under Hall of Fame Coach, UCLA Alumna and Div. I National Champion, Laurie Nevarez. She also learned from alumni of the University of Arizona, University of Oregon and top Southern California travel ball coaches. Upon completing her degree, she also played and coached professionally with the Haar Disciples in Munich, Germany.
Rushing holds a bachelor's degree in communicative disorders from University of Redlands, a master's in sport psychology from the University of Denver and another master's in leadership & learning from Jacksonville University.
Rushing and her husband, Bryan Rushing, relocated to LaGrange, Georgia, from Jacksonville, Florida, with their three sons, Patrick, Connor and Tristan, and two fur-babies, Charlotte and Luna.
