Alabama to Hire McMahon as New Pitching Coach

Alabama is expected to hire Illinois’ Lance McMahon as its new pitching coach, sources have told D1Softball.

McMahon replaces Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro, who recently left the Tide to become the head coach at Memphis.

McMahon has spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois. Under his guidance, the Illini staff posted sub 3.00 team ERAs the last three seasons. In 2022, the staff recorded a team ERA of 2.50 – the lowest since 2010 – and broke the single-season strikeout record (428).

Illinois, led by second-team All-Big Ten selection Sydney Sickels, ranked in the top half of the Big Ten in ERA (3rd), saves (2nd), strikeouts (2nd), batting average against (2nd) and shutouts (3rd).

McMahon joined Illinois after a three-year stint as an assistant at LSU. He graduated with a degree in sport management in 2013 from Missouri, where he served as a student manager and batting practice pitcher for three years.

At Alabama, McMahon will be presiding over a staff headlined by All-American Montana Fouts. The Tide lost Lexi Kilfoyl, who transferred to Oklahoma State.

For more assistant coaching hiring news, follow the Assistant Coach Carousel.