Kelly Beth Ernest named head softball coach at ICC
“I want to build on the tradition that Coach Kirk has made here,” said Ernest. “ICC is a winning program. I want to build the mentality to refuse to lose and always have one of the best teams in the state of Mississippi.”
FULTON, Miss. – Itawamba Community College Athletic Director Carrie Ball-Williamson announced Friday that Kelly Beth Ernest has been hired as the new head softball coach of the Indians.
"My time at ICC was great," said Ernest. "I got to work under Coach Andy Kirk, and it was a blessing learning so much from him. He was such a great mentor to me. It was the start of my collegiate career for coaching and made me realize this is the job that I love and want to do the rest of my life."
Ernest returns to Fulton after spending last season as the assistant coach at Delta State University.
"I enjoyed my time at Delta State," Ernest said. "I'm sad to leave, but excited to get back home and start working."
Ernest is no stranger to softball success.
Prior to her time in Cleveland, Ernest served as a volunteer assistant to Kirk. That season, the Indians finished 36-9 and ranked No. 5 in the country. Eight of their players earned Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) All-Conference honors, including Pitcher of the Year Emily Robinson. Multiple players were selected to the National Fastpitch Coach's Association (NFCA) All-Region team, and two pitchers earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American honors, Robinson and Madison Jenkins.
"I want to build on the tradition that Coach Kirk has made here," said Ernest. "ICC is a winning program. I want to build the mentality to refuse to lose and always have one of the best teams in the state of Mississippi."
The Selmer, Tenn. native played collegiately at Harding University and Blue Mountain College. While at Harding, Ernest was ranked fifth in the Great American Conference (GAC) and second in the NCAA DII with 10 saves while finishing fourth in the GAC with 42 strikeouts.
Ernest has also served as head coach of the Southaven Blue Angels 16U and 18U fast pitch softball teams, Corinth's American Freedom 14U and 16U and the Arkansas Blast 12U team.
Ernest earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and the Master of Business Administration degree, both from Blue Mountain.
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