McRae Joins Virginia Softball Staff
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia head softball coach Eileen Schmidt has announced the addition of Yolanda McRae as an assistant coach with the Cavalier program. At Virginia, McRae will coach the Virginia hitters and assist in recruiting efforts.
McRae replaces former assistant coach Geoff Hirai, who left for a similar position at Oregon State.
“We are very excited to have Yolanda join our staff,” Schmidt said. “Her base does not get much better, having played and coached at the University of Georgia under Lu Harris and then coaching at Georgia Tech under Sharon Perkins. Anyone familiar with those programs knows those two teams are consistently two of the better hitting teams in the nation that swing aggressive, powerful bats.”
McRae joins the Virginia staff after spending the 2010 and 2011 seasons as an assistant at Maryland. The Terrapins finished third in the ACC last season and hosted a NCAA regional for the second straight year.
Prior to her stint in College Park, McRae had three successful seasons at Georgia Tech. In 2009, the Yellow Jackets won the ACC regular season and tournament titles, as well as a NCAA regional championship title. In her time in Atlanta, McRae helped recruit one of the strongest outfields in the ACC, as well as the nation.
“Yolanda is a workhorse whether it is on the field, in the office or out recruiting,” Schmidt continued. “She brings sound mechanics but also has a wealth of knowledge on the technological side in video, scouting, and overall preparation. Yolanda is a great fit for this team. Her demeanor and young energy are exactly what we need to help us on our way to being a consistent team on the national stage.”
Before her time at Georgia Tech, McRae spent the 2006 season as a volunteer at Georgia, her alma mater, where the squad earned a top-10 national ranking.
A native of Dublin, Ga., McRae is a 2005 graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. She played one season there, helping the Bulldogs to their first SEC title. She was a two-year letterwinner at Georgia State before transferring to Georgia.