ASU Mid-South Announces Jimmy Hendrix as First-Ever Head Softball Coach

ASU Mid-South Athletics Director Chris Parker has announced that Jimmy Hendrix has been hired as the first softball coach in ASU Mid-South history.

Hendrix comes to the Lady Greyhounds from NCAA Division I East Tennessee State University where he served as Associate Head Coach for one season after 17 years as Co-Head Coach at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida, where he led the Lady Indians to three NJCAA Division I National Championships and two National Runner-Up finishes.

"We are very pleased to announce Coach Hendrix as the first softball coach in school history," said Parker. "He has the experience, the knowledge, and the passion we were looking for in someone to build our softball program from the ground up."

Coach Hendrix graduated from Chipley High School before attending Enterprise State College where he played baseball, earning a starting position at shortstop.  After transferring to Thomas University in Thomasville, GA, Hendrix led the team to their first appearance at the regional tournament as he was named MVP for the 1999-2000 season. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of West Florida.

He was then hired as co-head coach with his wife, Belinda, at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida, where the pair went on an unprecedented 17-year run, winning three NJCAA Division I National Championships (2007, 2015, 2019) and finishing as National Runner-Up twice (2016, 2018). He was named NJCAA Coach of the Year in each of the three National Championship years and Region Coach of the Year 8 times. He coached 50 NJCAA All-Americans NJCAA Pitchers of the Year, 10 conference Pitchers of the Year, 9 Conference Players of the Year, and sent over 70 players to four-year programs or National teams while graduating 90% of his student-athletes.

The success earned him an opportunity in 2021 at NCAA Division I East Tennessee State University where he inherited the rough task of turning around a program that had won just 3 conference games the year before and had not had a winning season in 5 years. Despite the challenges of transitioning a losing program to a different culture, ETSU was still able to win more conference games than the year before.

Hendrix began his coaching career at Vernon High School (FL) where he coached the baseball team from 2001-04 before taking over the reins of the Cottondale (FL) Lady Hornets softball team from 2004-05.

Hendrix is married to the former Belinda Thames and the couple has two daughters, Madyson (22) and Jade (19).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Eight NJCAA National Tournament Appearances
  • Three National Championships (2007, 2015, & 2019)
  • Two National Runner-up Finishes (2016 & 2018)
• NJCAA Coach of the Year - 2007, 2015, & 2019
• NJCAA Region VII Coach of the Year - 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016
• NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year - 2007, 2015, & 2019
• NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year - 2015, 2016, & 2018
• FCCAA State/Region VIII G Championship - 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015, & 2016
• FCCAA State/Region VIII H Championship - 2017, 2018, & 2019
• FCCAA State/Region VIII Coach of the Year - 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015, & 2016
• Fifteen FCCAA State/Region VIII Appearances
• Nine Florida Panhandle Conference Championships (Program's first title in 2007)
• Ten Florida Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year Awards
• Coached over 50 NJCAA All-Americans (Program's first All-American was in 2007)
• Coached 2 NJCAA Pitchers of the Year (2015 & 2018)
• Coached 10 Panhandle Conference Pitchers of the Year
• Coached 9 Panhandle Conference Players of the Year
• Coached 2 NJCAA Pitchers of the Year (2015 & 2018)
• Sent over 70 former players to four year institutions or National teams
• Graduated 90% of student-athletes
• Invited to coach team for Club USA National High School Tournament in Hawaii in 2008 (Won 1st place in Silver bracket)

NJCAA Overall Record:                    392 – 88 (.817 winning percentage)

NJCAA Conference Record:             109 – 37 (.747 winning percentage)