Archibald Steps Down as EIU Softball Coach

(TARA ARCHIBALD)

Eastern Illinois Athletic Director Tom Michael has announced the search for a new softball coach for the Panthers program as head coach Tara Archibald has stepped down to take a position coaching on the staff of her father Gerry Glasco. Glasco has been named the new softball coach at Texas Tech..

"I want to thank Tara for her dedication to this program over the past five years and for taking us to new heights during her tenure," said Michael. "I know this was a very difficult decision for her to make, but it was also a once in a lifetime opportunity as her dad was just hired to lead a program in the Big 12 Conference. We will move quickly to hire the next Panthers softball head coach as the foundation for success has been built for this program to continue to thrive in the years ahead."

Archibald took over the Panthers program five years ago coaching her first season through the spring of 2020 COVID shutdown. She quickly built the program into an OVC contender, winning the OVC Tournament Championship in 2023 to secure the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. This past season EIU won 40 games, tying for the most wins in the program's NCAA Division I history as they won the OVC regular season championship.

"It has been a privilege and an honor to lead the EIU Softball team the past five years. I would like to thank Tom Michael for giving me this incredible opportunity, and going above and beyond to support our program and our athletes on a daily basis. I would also like to thank Dr. Gatrell for everything he has done to invest in our program, and put EIU Athletics and EIU Softball in a position to have such great success throughout the last two seasons," said Archibald. "Most importantly, thank you to the players and families who chose to be Panthers and made this program what it is today. I'm so proud of what we've accomplished and know the best is yet to come for Panther Softball! My family will always cherish our time at EIU."

Over the past two seasons EIU has featured the OVC Pitcher of the Year, OVC Player of the Year and back-to-back OVC Freshman of the Year award winners.