BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Kat (Mason) McCreery, a 2004 Illinois Wesleyan graduate and former all-conference catcher for the Titans, has been named head softball coach at Illinois Wesleyan University, IWU athletic director Dennie Bridges announced today.

"I am both ecstatic and honored to return to my alma mater as head softball coach," said McCreery. "Coach (Steve) King did a tremendous job maintaining the team's national prominence and one of my goals is to build off of his success.

"I have a passion for this game and want each softball player I coach to have the same fulfilling experience I did including competing at the NCAA Division III softball college World Series.

"Since graduating, I've always bled green, and look forward to leading an IWU team to success both on and off the field."

A native of Galesburg, Ill., McCreery was a four-year letterwinner at Illinois Wesleyan and was a three-time all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection as a catcher (2002, 2003, 2004). She played on teams that went to three NCAA Division III tournaments and for the 2003 IWU team that finished third in the nation. She was chosen to all-tournament team for the 2003 College World Series.
McCreery was an all-region honoree in 2001.

She finished her 166-game career with a .270 batting average, 20 doubles, four home runs and 57 runs batted in. The 166 games played ranks No. 7 in IWU records.

"Kat was a terrific competitor as a player at Illinois Wesleyan and I expect that will continue over as our next head coach," said Bridges. "We have a history of success in softball that she has been part of and will bring to our future Titan teams."

McCreery coached softball from 2008 to 2010 at Bloomington High School, where her teams had a composite 73-33 record (.688 winning percentage). Her 2008 team was 28-6 and won the Purple Raiders' first Big 12 Conference softball title in 26 years.

In 2009 the Raiders placed fifth in the IHSA Class 3A state tournament, the best finish in District 87 history.

She also was head softball coach at Bloomington Junior High School during that era and the 2010 team finished second in the IESA state tourney, the highest finish ever for a BJHS squad.

She also played on the Peoria Outlaws team that was the Amateur Softball Association 2004 national champions (23 and under) and the 2001 ASA state champion (18 and under).

Since 2011, McCreery has worked as an athletics academic advisor and coordinator at Illinois State University. She was an assistant softball coach and assistant to the athletic director at Knox College from 2004 to 2006 while earning her master's degree in sports management at Western Illinois University in 2007.

McCreery served as an assistant volleyball coach at IWU in 2007 and 2008.

She is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the National Association of Athletics Academics Advisors and the Amateur Softball Association.

Kat is married to Shane McCreery and they are parents of one son, Mason (2).