Western Illinois administrator and former coach Holly Van Vlymen is returning to the dugout, set to lead the Leathernecks’ softball team on an interim basis for the 2020 season.
Van Vlymen served as WIU’s head coach for eleven years, prior to being promoted to a senior administrative role in the athletic department in 2017. During her tenure at the helm of the program, Van Vlymen led the Leathernecks to a trio of regular-season conference titles and one Summit League tournament championship.
Named the conference Coach of the Year in 2007, 2009, and 2010, Van Vlymen led the Leathernecks to their first-ever NCAA tournament win, a 3-1 victory over Drake during the 2008 postseason. When she initially retired from coaching, Van Vlymen owned 238 career victories during her time leading the program.
“I’m excited to be back and to be able to lead such a great group of young women,” Van Vlymen said in a school press release. “This program and the student-athletes, present, and past, will always hold a special place in my heart.”
A former Leatherneck playing great, the former Holly Killion set numerous program pitching records during her playing career that lasted from 1996-2000, including career wins (74); strikeouts (880); and innings pitched (809.1) among numerous statistical categories. She was inducted into the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012 and was a four-time all-conference selection.
Since 2017, Van Vlymen has served as Western Illinois’ Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services and Student-Athlete Development.
The Leathernecks finished the 2019 season with a 20-20 overall record, including a 12-6 mark in conference play. The squad finished the season with a .257 team batting average, while the pitching staff assembled a 3.64 cumulative ERA.
