TCC Softball alum Jennifer McKibben named to coaching post at New Mexico

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (October 24, 2013) – Former Tallahassee Community College softball player and coach Jennifer McKibben has joined the softball staff at the University of New Mexico as a volunteer assistant. 

McKibben, a standout catcher during her collegiate career, first at Tallahassee and then Virginia Tech, will work with the Lobos’ catchers, throw BP during practices and assist in other capacities as needed.  She joins the New Mexico staff on the heels of an eight-year stint as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for Tallahassee head coach Patti Townsend. 

McKibben’s tenure in Tallahassee included six postseason berths, a pair of NJCAA Region 8B/FCSAA Gulf District Tournament Championships (2008, 2011) and a third-place finish in the 2011 NJCAA Tournament.  

“I want to thank Coach (Erica) Beach, Coach (Lyndsey) Angus and Coach (Lisa-Ann) Wallace for extending to me the opportunity to work with their remarkable staff and program,” said McKibben. “At the same time, there is absolutely no way I would be in this position without Patti Townsend and everything she taught me and allowed me to do within our program at Tallahassee. 

“Patti has always treated the (Tallahassee) program and her assistants as though we were competing at a Division 1 level and, because of her and the student-athletes we were honored to coach, I feel confident about being able to step in with the Lobos and help in any capacity needed. 

“The administration, athletes and coaches at UNM are first class, so it has been an easy transition since I was coming from a similar experience in Tallahassee. I am looking forward to helping the Lobos compete in the tough Mountain West Conference and lending my softball knowledge in any way I can in order to make Coach Townsend, Coach (Emily) Wehr and the TCC family proud.” 

According to McKibben, New Mexico’s 2014 schedule will include a trip to Tempe, Ariz., for a tournament at Arizona State University. There, she will be reunited with ex-Tallahassee catcher Kirsten Grant, now a senior at North Carolina State University. Grant was the starting catcher on the Eagles’ 2011 squad.