BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford University head softball coach Kimball Cassady announced the hiring of Jeff Gillespie as an assistant coach Thursday afternoon.
 
Gillespie will work with the team's pitchers and outfielders, and will assist with the hitters.
 
"I am extremely excited about having Jeff join our program here at Samford," Cassady said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge of all aspects of the game. He's a relentless recruiter and coach which is so important when it comes to getting the program where it needs to be."
 
Gillespie comes to Samford after serving four seasons as an assistant coach at Birmingham-Southern College under Cassady. While at BSC, he helped the program to tremendous success.
 
In the 2021 season, the Panthers finished with a record of 33-8 overall and 12-2 in Southern Athletic Association (SAA) play. The team won the program's first-ever NCAA Regional title, and reached the semifinals of the Division III Women's College World Series. The squad also won a second-straight SAA Tournament and regular-season title, finishing the season ranked fourth in the nation.
 
The 2019 squad finished 35-7 overall and 13-2 in league play, winning the SAA regular-season championship. The Panthers also won the SAA Tournament title and reached an NCAA Regional. The 2020 team got off to a 14-4 start before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Gillespie operates the Birmingham Vipers fastpitch organization, which is a 10-team organization that plays at the national level. The organization has sent more than 200 student-athletes to compete at the college level.
 
During Gillespie's 12-year coaching career, his teams have won a total of 512 games, lost 84, and placed second, third, and fifth in the ASA Junior Olympic Class A National Championship Tournament. They also won nine ASA Class A Regional Championships, and seven Alabama ASA Class A State Championships. 
 
Gillespie played baseball and basketball at George C. Wallace Community College - Selma, then later continued his baseball career at Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss. 
 
He has a son, Brandon Gillespie, who graduated from Auburn University. He also has a daughter, Whitney Gillespie, who graduated from Jacksonville State University where she played softball. Whitney was a three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, OVC Pitcher of the Year, and a two-time OVC Tournament MVP.
 
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