The Marshalltown Community College Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Garland Shirley for the position of head softball coach. Shirley brings close to 20 years of softball coaching experience to the Tigers.
Shirley comes to MCC after helping start the softball program at AIB College of Business in 2013 as an assistant coach. The Eagles increased their win total by 14 games from the 2014 season before the AIB athletic department folded after the completion of the 2015 athletic year.
AIB was not the only softball program Shirley helped get off the ground in recent years as the Waukee, IA native was hired as the first coach at Ankeny Centennial in Ankeny, IA in 2014. In the team's first year of competition, the Jaguars were a regional finalist and produced the Class 5A Player of the Year.
MCC will be Shirley's first head college coaching job. "I'm excited to get started," Shirley exclaimed. "I'm ready to start a new era at MCC and get a head-start on the recruiting trail. I want to get to work."
"AIB was a great experience for me," Shirley continued. "It was heartbreaking to see the program fold, but it gave me a lot of experience working with a great coaching staff and against some good competition."
Prior to his time at AIB and Ankeny, Shirley coached at Van Meter High School in Van Meter, IA where he was the 2012 District Coach of the Year after taking the team to its first-ever state tournament, finishing in fifth place.
"At Ankeny and Van Meter I had the chance to coach two players of the year. Not many people get the chance to do that. I've got almost 20 years of experience on the dirt in the fall, spring, and summer. I've had the opportunity to coach some quality players throughout my career."
MCC Director of Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Shirley. "The addition of Garland Shirley as our softball coach helps us continue to place quality, experienced, and winning coaches as leaders for our student-athletes."
Shirley will continue to coach at Ankeny Centennial as the collegiate and high school seasons do not overlap.
"Garland will work tirelessly," Huntley added, "to balance his commitment to the success of our students with his current position as head softball coach at Ankeny Centennial. Both of us feel this dual role will certainly help when recruiting and developing his recruiting strategies and building our program back to its most successful level in 2014."
The Tigers are coming off of a 3-44 record in 2015, but won a school-record 33 games in 2014.
Shirley sees the dual role as an advantage to the Tiger program. "It gives me a chance to be around softball all year long. I'll be able to see high school players throughout the entire year to help with recruiting."
"I think recruiting is going to play in our favor," Shirley mentioned. "I'm familiar with teams in the area. I'm heavily involved in travel ball. The biggest thing is when people see you're building a program, they get excited. I've got plenty of connections to help in recruiting."
"I'm ready to get to MCC and put the work in," Shirley concluded.
