Steve Jaecks has officially rounded out his coaching staff for his inaugural season as Lady Cougar Softball head coach.
Jennah McElheney has been named Jaecks' assistant. She attended Chattanooga State and earned her Associate's degree in Science while also playing softball for the Lady Tigers. She then transferred into Reinhardt University in Waleska, Ga., where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor's degree in Sport Studies with a minor in business. She also played the last two years of her collegiate softball career for the Eagles.
In her softball career, she has been named to All-Conference teams three times, including the First Team in 2019, and was also named an NAIA Scholar Athlete and was a four-time All-Academic team member between Chatt State and Reinhardt. She also has earned AAC Player of the Week honors, NFCA All-Region honors, and earned a Reinhardt Respy's Award for Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.
This is her first coaching position, but McElheney has been giving hitting and pitching lessons since 2014. Before joining the Lady Cougars staff, she worked at Gold's Gym, Chattanooga State's fitness center, and Anytime Fitness.
When asked about the opportunity, McElheney said, "I'm so excited about this new opportunity and am very blessed to be chosen for this position. I can't wait to get started to see all we can do. Coach Jaecks is very knowledgeable so I'm looking forward to working with him."
Auburn Collake has been named a Volunteer Assistant. A 2019 graduate of Cleveland State with an Associate's of Science degree and the reigning Female Athlete of the Year for her talents on the 2019 Lady Cougar softball team, Collake has experience helping coach in many different camps, including softball, basketball, and volleyball. She also has given individual lessons for softball skills.
Colalke is currently studying at the University of Tennessee: Chattanooga, pursuing a degree in Middle Grades Education. She is from Ooltewah, Tenn. and when she is not coaching or studying for UTC, enjoys playing sports, shopping, and spending time with friends and family.
"I am so blessed and grateful for this opportunity to continue to be around this sport that I love," Collake said. "It makes it even better to be able to stay at the best place in Cleveland State. I'm so excited to be able to help and learn from Coach Jaecks.
Stay tuned to cscougars.com for more updates on the Softball offseason.
