Tiger Softball Coaches
Beth Keylon-Randolph…Head Softball Coach, Assistant Athletic Director
There are a handful of schools in the country that can boast of having a head softball coach who is a “Team USA Coach” and Chattanooga State is one of those. Adding to her many accomplishments, Coach Beth Keylon-Randolph continues to exhibit the “it” factor being name co-head coach of Team USA for the World University games in Thailand in 2007.
Recognized in 2007 by the NFCA as a member of the “Victory Blue Club” in ten years Keylon-Randolph has accumulated 532 wins as the Tigers head coach and once again received special recognition from the NFCA for accumulating 500 wins. Since her inaugural season in 2002 Keylon-Randolph has won the region tournament eight years, representing Region VII at the National Tournament. Since her inception as head coach she has led Chattanooga State to top 20 national rankings for ten straight years: 2002…7th , 2003…16th , 2004…5th , 2005…6th , 2006…12th , 2007…4th , 2008…2nd , 2009…1st , 2010…5th and 2011…2nd . In 2008 Tiger softball finished with its highest nationals finish at 3rd . And in 2010 Tiger softball placed 7th at the national tournament.
Softball players from around the United States seek out Chattanooga State for an education because of Coach Beth Keylon-Randolph. Her yearly record of wins is impressive and tells each student athlete that there is an advantage to attend Chattanooga State: 2002…48 wins, 2003…49 wins, 2004…63 wins, 2005…49 wins, 2006…55 wins, 2007…52 wins, 2008…59 wins, 2009…60 wins, 2010…57 wins and 2011…46 wins. To put it bluntly she is a winner.
Beth Keylon-Randolph has “it” because of her characteristics as a person, coaching style and playing experience. Her communication is concise. She listens and utilizes sound strategies to elicit the best performance from her players. Her honesty and integrity enhance effectiveness and thoroughness in game preparation. Player and team success is directly related to her ability to evaluate and teach. Keylon-Randolph’s charismatic personality brings it all together to give each student athlete the best chance at success.
As a player, Coach Randolph started as a 4-year-old baseball player, moved into the softball world as an elite summer ball player and led her Hixson Tennessee high school team to a state championship.
In her 3 year college career at D-1 Tennessee Tech, this Biology graduate was the most dominant pitcher and player in the Ohio Valley Conference. Along with numerous pitching and hitting records Keylon-Randolph was the OVC pitcher and player of the year in 1994; the only player in OVC history to win both of these honors concurrently. In this record setting year she was also recognized as NCAA Woman of the Year and Tennessee Tech Female Athlete of the Year. As a senior she pitched and hit TTU to a perfect 17-0 conference season and their first ever conference championship. Having led Tech to 85 wins in her college playing tenure, Coach Randolph is one of a handful to be honored on the Tennessee Tech softball stadium’s wall of fame and in 2004 was named to the Tennessee Tech Hall of Fame.
Coach Randolph’s coaching career began as an assistant to Tech Head Coach Bobby Holloway. She then worked for two years as the pitching coach for the University of South Carolina under Joyce Compton and then ended her term as an assistant under Ralph and Karen Weekly at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In each arena Keylon-Randolph’s pitchers were statistically top in the country.
Adding to her many attributes Coach Randolph has directed and taught at her own Softball Academy for the past 18 years. She has literally placed hundreds of her students in scholarship opportunities at colleges and universities across the country.
Because of her success as both a pitcher and player, Coach Randolph is a “one stop shop” on the field. She has successfully experienced all fundamentals of the game and has successfully taught and coached all fundamentals of the game to the highest level. In her time as head coach at Chattanooga State her teams have statistically finished as a top echelon in the country. Not only in wins, but team batting average and pitching ERA:
- 2002…Team batting average .345…Team ERA 1.39
- 2003…Team batting average .335…Team ERA 1.81
- 2004…Team batting average .396…Team ERA 0.80
- 2005…Team batting average .366…Team ERA 1.07
- 2006…Team batting average .379…Team ERA 1.13
- 2007…Team batting average .342…Team ERA 1.06
- 2008…Team batting average .339…Team ERA 0.72
- 2009…Team batting average .376…Team ERA 1.02
- 2010…Team batting average .360…Team ERA 1.34
- 2011…Team batting average .342…Team ERA 1.56
As a 5- time winner of Coach of the Year honors (2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011) Keylon-Randolph has placed over 81 players on All Conference and All Region Teams and has developed an astounding 19 All-Americans in her 9-year stint as the Tigers head coach.
As a believer that the student in the label of student-athlete is important as the athlete, Coach Randolph has inspired 7 of her players to earn NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-American honors. (GPA of at least 3.7)
Her teams have consistently achieved recognition from the NJCAA and NFCA for their team GPA coming in as high as 6th in the country. She has placed 90 student athletes on the TJCCA All Academic scholars list.
In 2007 Beth Keylon-Randolph was recognized for her keen creativity, desire and drive and was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director. She continues to be an invaluable asset as Head Softball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director for the mission of Chattanooga State.
Chattanooga State is privileged that husband Scott, 11-year-old son Cole and 2-year old son Trey share Coach Randolph and her many talents with them. Over 200 student-athlete softball players have been taught and coached by one of the top coaches in the country. They along with hundreds of others have been able to experience Beth Keylon-Randolph and the “it” factor!
Jamie Qualls…Assistant Softball Coach
Beginning her 6th season as Assistant Coach, Jamie Qualls has made a name for herself as a top hitting and defensive coach in the country. Since accepting the opportunity extended by Beth Keylon-Randolph in 2006, she has helped guide the Lady Tigers to maintain their yearly national dominance. As well as anchoring the first base coaching duties, Coach Qualls is relied on to develop the outfielders, catchers, hitters and slappers. Her understanding of the game is easily relayed to players through her commitment to observation and the individual development of each player.
Coach Qualls played on Coach Randolph’s first team at Chattanooga State. During her sophomore year she was recognized for her leadership and was named co-captain of the team. Known as a consummate team player she earned TJCCAA All-Academic honors in both her freshman and sophomore years.
Prior to her Chattanooga State Tiger days, Qualls began playing on the summer circuit with the nationally known Parker Eagles. As a catcher/outfielder of her high school team, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, she was a 4-time recipient of the “Who’s Who in Sports” and three times recognized as an “NFCA All American Scholar” athlete. Honored, as a North Georgia “Player of the Week,” Coach Qualls was also a member of the “North Georgia Softball Team.”
For the past nine years Jamie Qualls has been a lead instructor in the KFA Softball Academy. She teaches all aspects of the game, specializing in catching, hitting, fielding and team training. Mentoring area athletes and having them excel at the next level helps drive her creativity for the game. “Jamie is one of the best teachers of the game and understands what it takes to train players of all ages. She is fundamental, direct, confident and passionate,” Coach Randolph added.
Coach Qualls brings her experiential abilities in teaching and her prior playing qualities to enhance her coaching attributes. She also assists with all fundamentals of the game and is counted on to give her perspective in all game and practice procedures. Having been coached and taught by Coach Randolph, Qualls understands the importance of total team concept and excels in representing this model of action.
Jamie’s husband, Charlie, played baseball at Chattanooga State. They have been married for five years and have a beautiful 4-year-old daughter, Chloe.
Steve Jaecks…Assistant Softball Coach / Athletic Director
Coach Randolph hired Steve Jaecks six years ago as assistant softball coach, initially giving him the task of evaluating and assisting with all aspects of game management and strategy. Since that time, Jaecks has been given coaching responsibility to assist with player fundamental preparation, practice, recruitment, game operations, field upkeep and academic/career advisement.
The effectiveness of Jaecks comes from his academic accomplishments, successful career experiences and fast pitch softball playing/coaching background. As a premier fast pitch softball player, Coach Jaecks was known as an RBI machine. A 25-year veteran who played across the country, he earned the “Chattanooga Softball Player of the Year” award in 1986 while playing in Chattanooga out of the Dixie Major Fast Pitch League; a league in which Jaecks was a co-coach of a team that won 100 games in a row.
Having earned numerous batting awards and MVP recognitions, Jaecks was a highly proficient defensive player excelling at catcher, 1st and 2nd base and all outfield positions.
With an under graduate degree in Physical Education and a Masters degree in Education/Physical Education, he has taught at the university/college level for 31 years. His teaching experiences range from teaching fundamental skills in all sports, instructing students how to teach/coach and classroom theory presentations. An expert in the area of Motor Learning/Development and Psychology/Sociology of Sport, Jaecks continues to use that knowledge as an assistant coach to Beth Keylon-Randolph.
Because of his extensive background in sport and sport administration, Steve Jaecks understands and exhibits the loyalty and passion to be an assistant coach. Jaecks says: “I am working for the best softball coach in the country. Coach Randolph has excelled at the game; she is a tremendous teacher/motivator and is a winner; plain and simple. She motivates me to excel and to be the best assistant I can be.”
Jaecks is married to Carmen who is a secretary in a Computer Operations department at a local university. Their family includes two Alaskan Malamutes, Baron and Pepsi.
Jimmy Whisman M.S., C.S.C.S…Strength and Conditioning Coach
Coach Whisman brings a wide variety of experiences to Chattanooga State that he incorporates into the school’s Strength and Condition program. Coach Whisman began lifting weights with his Dad while in elementary school to prepare for football. At this young age the idea of prior preparation for the coming season was learned and put into practice. During his high school career at Red Bank High School Coach Whisman was a 4-year letterman in wrestling and track and a 3-year letterman in football. Some of Coach Whisman’s high school accomplishments and awards were:
-Member of the 1994 State Champion Duel Meet Wresting Team
-Two time Individual State Wrestling Tournament Qualifier- 3rd in 1997
-Multi-year All-Region football
-1997 FCA Athlete of the Year Red Bank High School
-1997 Scrappy Moore Award Finalist- School’s Most Valuable Athlete
Because of his outstanding High School career Coach Whisman earned an Athletic Scholarship for football to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). He was a 4-year letterman while at UTC but early on he realized he enjoyed the off-season training more than actually playing the game and began pursuing a career in strength and conditioning.
He graduated Cum Lade in 2002 with a BS in Exercise Science and was awarded a teaching graduate assistantship by the exercise science department. In 2004 he earned his MS in human performance graduating with a 3.92 GPA. While in graduate school he continued his athletic career with a short stint in power lifting winning a state title in 2004.
In 2005 he became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Shortly after graduation Coach Whisman began working as a performance coach at Velocity Sports and Performance of Chattanooga where he began training the Chattanooga State Softball Team. Also while at Velocity he began competing in Strongman. In seven Strongman competitions he has placed in the top three six times including 2 first place finishes.
In 2008 Coach Whisman came to Chattanooga State full time as Fitness Center Coordinator. He still works very closely with the athletic teams trying to instill the lesson that sports specific training is a year round pursuit. He also trains the employees and teaches credit classes.
Anne Carroll…Academic Advisor, Dean of Social Behavioral Sciences
Anne Carroll, Academic Advisor and the Dean of Social Behavioral Sciences works in close conjunction with Head Coach Beth Keylon-Randolph to ensure that each student athlete softball player progresses to their college degree and career objective.
As an alumnus of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Dean Carroll brings her specialization in Women’s Studies to the academic advisement of the softball team creating a special support and understanding for each young lady as they strive to excel in the classroom. Carroll subscribes to the Keylon-Randolph philosophy of excellence by demanding accountability, drive and determination of herself as she serves to enhance the opportunity for success in the classroom. With years of experience in the higher education arena of UTK and Chattanooga State coupled with public sector service in the area of Criminal Justice, Dean Anne Carroll is a positive contributor and major influence in the academic pursuits of each student athlete softball player.