Tarah McShane is in her second season as an assistant coach on the Columbia softball staff. She was hired in July of 2018 after spending the last two years as an assistant at Valparaiso.
McShane’s two years coaching at Valpo included a 28-win season and third-place finish in the Horizon League in 2017. Valpo joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 2018, winning 27 games, finishing fourth in the conference standings and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament.
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McShane heavily assisted in the development of Valpo’s hitters in her two years on staff. Her coaching responsibilities also included creating and implementing practice plans for both hitting and defense, assisting with in-game decisions, recruiting and camps and clinics. She was also the team’s travel coordinator all while being in charge of planning events such as Alumni Day, Senior Day and Family Day.
Prior to her return to her alma mater, McShane spent a year at Illinois-Chicago as a volunteer assistant coach. She helped guide the Flames to the Horizon League regular season title in 2016. UIC won 32 games and saw eight players earn all-conference recognition.
In her playing days, McShane was a vital part of two Horizon League championships (2012, 2013) at Valparaiso. The Crusaders won 117 games over her four-year career, including the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history, defeating Central Michigan, 7-4, at the Ann Arbor Regional in 2013. McShane appeared in 168 games, making 159 starts, and concluded her time at Valpo second in program history in fielding percentage (.989), seventh all-time in RBIs (94) and doubles (36), ninth in home runs (14) and tenth in putouts (536). McShane served as team captain her senior season.
McShane earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Valparaiso University in 2015. She went on to complete a master’s degree in sports administration this past semester, graduating magna cum laude.
