Mark Redburn has helped elevate every program he has been associated with, and now he has the opportunity to do the same as head coach of the University of Evansville softball team.

Redburn, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Missouri’s 2009 College World Series team, was introduced today as the Purple Aces’ head coach. He replaces Gwen Lewis, who retired from coaching in May after being at the Aces’ helm for 18 years and leading Evansville to 506 victories.

“We were very fortunate to have so many outstanding candidates,” according to UE Director of Athletics John Stanley. “That speaks well to our conference and our school that so many good coaches showed interest. Mark has an outstanding personality and he’s been a winning coach everywhere he’s been. I spoke to a number of people about Mark, and they all talked about how much he cares about his players and gets the very best out of them. He is the caliber of coach who can build on the tradition at the University of Evansville and make our program stronger.”

Added Redburn, “I’m completely thrilled and excited for the opportunity that the University of Evansville is giving me. I want to thank John Stanley for having the trust and confidence in me to take over the program. We want to implement a philosophy very early on in which we have a plan for everything we do every single day so we can get better as players and as a program. Every day will be detailed, with plenty of meetings with players so all of us are on the same page in terms of what we want to achieve. We want to compete for conference championships as soon as possible. We will raise the level of expectations.”

Redburn began his collegiate coaching career as head coach at St. Charles (Mo.) Community College from 2001-2004. He led the 2003 team to its first Region 16 championship and a seventh place finish at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. His 2004 squad set a school record with 33 victories. He spent the next two years as head coach of the new softball program at Jefferson College. In the program’s first year of competition, in 2006, he led Jefferson to a 49-16 record, the Region 16 championship, and a ninth place finish at the NJCAA D-I National Tournament.

Redburn has spent the last three seasons at Missouri, where the Tigers posted records of 40-24 in 2007, 47-17 in 2008 and 50-12 this year in advancing to the College World Series. Redburn was assistant coach in charge of pitchers and catchers, in addition to serving as recruiting coordinator. The 2009 squad set a school record for victories, finished second in the Big 12 Conference, won the Big 12 Tournament, and then won Regional and Super Regional championships to advance to the College World Series.

Redburn is a native of St. Charles, Mo. He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a degree in special education, and received his master’s degree in Athletics/Activities Administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. He and his wife, Tracy, have two sons–Joe (14) and Jack (11).

What Others Say About Mark Redburn...

2009 First Team All-Big 12 Pitcher Stacy Delaney: “Coach Redburn is the best coach I ever had. He provided everyone he coached a sense of self-confidence.”

Former St. Charles CC Player Angie Kozlowski: “Coach Redburn never gives up on his players, and believes in each and every one of them. His last year as our head coach was my favorite year of softball, and he was a huge part of that.”

University of Missouri Head Coach Ehren Earleywine: “It’s a very good hire for the University of Evansville. With Mark’s coaching experience at the top level of college softball in addition to his head coaching experience at the junior college level, he should segue very easily into his new job. As great a coach as he is, the most outstanding thing about Mark is who he is as a human being. He is a great man. He has tremendous character. The girls will really enjoy playing for him.”

St. Louis University Head Coach John Conway: “Mark has seen a lot of success as a head coach in building a program, and as an assistant coach in taking Missouri to a much higher level than they had ever experienced. He’s a very good recruiter. He’s a leader. He’s a guy of high character, and he will definitely do well at Evansville.”