SEMO Softball Academy Coaching Staff


Mark Redburn

Head Coach

In just four seasons, Mark Redburn has transformed the Southeast Missouri softball program. Redburn sets to coach the 43rd team in Southeast softball history in 2019.

The 2018 season produced the program's most wins in a season in 20 years (33-20 overall record), the best Ohio Valley Conference finish since 2009 (4th place, 15-7 record) and an RPI ranking of 74 among the nation's 296 NCAA Division I teams.

Prior to Redburn’s first season in 2015, the Redhawks finished with only eight Division I wins, a last place conference finish with three wins and an RPI of 265.

SEMO heated up to win 11 of its final 14 regular-season games in 2018 and advanced to the eight-team OVC Tournament with its highest seed (#4) in nine years. The Redhawks made their 17th all-time trip to the league's postseason tournament and second with Redburn at the helm.

The Redhawks broke four of the school's single-season records and collected eight doubleheader sweeps. SEMO established new single-season records in walks (166), stolen bases (70), saves (7) and strikeouts looking (85). The Redhawks were also either second or third among the program's top teams in stolen base attempts (2nd, 87), batters struck out (t2nd, 260), fielding percentage (2nd, .970), fewest errors (2nd, 43) and on-base percentage (3rd, .359).

Defensively, SEMO improved tremendously. After ranking eighth in the OVC in fielding percentage the year before, the Redhawks were the league's second-best fielding team in 2018. SEMO had 43 errors and committed 16 less than it did in 2017. The Redhawks went error free in 25 games equating to 47 percent of their entire season.

Nationally, SEMO rated among the top 60 teams in triples per game (6th), fielding percentage (40th) and stolen bases per game (57th, 1.32). Individually, Rachel Anderson was ninth in the nation in triples (6) and Abby Tillotson was 41st in sacrifice flies (4).

Anderson (CF), Sarah Messex (SS) and Abby Tillotson (C) earned All-OVC honors. Anderson picked up first-team accolades for the second-straight year, while Messex and Tillotson were second-team selections. Anderson also secured Second-Team NFCA All-Mideast Region laurels.

Academically, the Redhawks were again impressive with six players achieving a 4.0 grade point average during the 2018 spring semester. As a team, SEMO posted a 3.55 GPA. 

Redburn coached his first OVC Freshman of the Year and third First-Team All-OVC selection in Anderson. Anderson, also a NFCA Second-Team All-Region pick, led the team in batting average (.412), at-bats (153), hits, doubles (10), triples (8), home runs (7), RBIs (33), total bases (110), slugging percentage (.719), on-base percentage (.483), multi hit games (21), multi-RBI performances (10) and games started (50) as a freshman in 2017.

The 2017 Redhawks placed among the school’s top single-season teams in slugging percentage (6th, .427), on-base percentage (5th, .356), triples (t4th, 21), home runs (9th, 31), total bases (9th, 567), stolen bases (2nd, 65), stolen base attempts (1st, 88), opponent batting average (7th, .282), strikeouts/7 innings (7th, 4.17), strikeouts (10th, 194), strikeouts looking (3rd, 61) fewest doubles allowed (8th, 49), fielding percentage (8th, .960), fewest errors (t7th, 59) and fewest stolen bases against (3rd, 38).

Redburn picked up his 200th career victory when Southeast beat Austin Peay, 7-4, on Apr. 30, 2016. His 2016 club ranked among the school’s top-10 teams in doubles (6th, 69), stolen bases (3rd, 58), walks (8th, 138), home runs (6th, 35) and slugging percentage (6th, .412). Additionally, Redburn coached one All-OVC pick (Savannah Carpenter) that year.

In his first season, Redburn led the Redhawks to an overall record of 19-27 and 12-12 in OVC play during the 2015 campaign. His 19 victories came after Southeast won no more than 15 games in each of the previous two seasons. Redburn’s first club at Southeast also had 12 OVC wins, a +9 increase from the 2014 campaign. In addition, the Redhawks made the OVC Tournament, snapping a streak of three years where they missed the event. 

Not only did Redburn earn his 100th career NCAA Division I win in his inaugural season with the Redhawks, but he coached three All-OVC selections and one NFCA All-Region honoree.

Statistically, Southeast finished among the top-five OVC teams in batting average (3rd), slugging percentage (5th), on-base percentage (5th) and hits (5th). The 2015 Redhawks also broke two single-season records with Kayla Fortner establishing new marks in home runs and walks. Southeast tied the OVC single-game mark and set a single-game school record with six home runs, as well. 

Academically, the Redhawks accumulated a 3.35 grade point average during the 2014-15 academic year as a total of nine players earned NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete status for achieving a 3.5 or higher GPA.

The fourth head coach in Redhawk softball history, Redburn won 90 games in five years as head coach at the University of \ Evansville before accepting the job at Southeast on June 26, 2014.

In 2014, Redburn coached a UE team with five starters that were underclassmen, including four freshmen and one sophomore. The Purple Aces achieved their highest batting average since 2007. Additionally, UE had a freshman lead the team in stolen bases and home runs.

Despite a season that allowed 53 games, the 2013 team had its best season in Redburn’s five years at UE. Entering the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament as the No. 7 seed, the Purple Aces beat the No. 6, No. 3 and No. 2 seeds to make their first MVC Championship appearance since 2003. UE finished second with three players garnering All-Tournament team honors.

The 2013 campaign resulted in the most overall wins in a season since 2008 and the best regular-season and conference tournament finish since Redburn’s arrival. UE continued its aggressive baserunning with 89 stolen bases, ranking second in the MVC. The pitching staff also rated fourth in the conference.

Redburn’s 2012 club saw improvement as well, winning more games than it had the previous season. The Purple Aces stole 79 bases and had two all-conference and one National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region selection that year.

In 2011, Redburn exposed a young and inexperienced team to some of the top programs in the nation as UE played one of its most difficult schedules. Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Ohio State, Texas Tech, South Alabama and Chattanooga were among the stiff competition.

Redburn quickly started to transform the UE program during his first year in 2010. The Purple Aces secured a berth in the MVC Tournament after winning 10 conference games. UE led the MVC with 31 doubles and hit 36 home runs, while producing two all-conference picks.

Academically, Redburn’s teams consistently enjoyed success. In fact, each of his last four UE teams accumulated a 3.1 or higher grade point average. He had several student-athletes obtain over a 3.5 GPA and earn academic recognition along the way.

Prior to UE, Redburn spent three years as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri working primarily with the pitchers and catchers, and serving as recruiting coordinator.

He was part of a coaching staff that compiled an overall record of 137-53. The Tigers registered a school record for victories (50), won the Big 12 Conference Tournament, won their Regional and defeated host UCLA in the Super Regional to advance to the College World Series in 2009. Overall, Redburn coached four all-conference pitchers, including USA National Team Pitcher Chelsea Thomas at Missouri.

Redburn began his collegiate coaching career as head coach at St. Charles (Mo.) Community College from 2001-04. He led the 2003 team to its first Region 16 championship and a seventh-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I National Tournament. His 2004 squad set a school record with 33 victories.

Following his stay at St. Charles CC, Redburn spent two seasons as head coach of the new softball program at Jefferson College. In the program’s first year of competition, 2006, he led Jefferson to a 49-16 record, Region 16 championship and ninth-place finish at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. Redburn was honored as the Midwest Community College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year following that season.

A native of St. Charles, Missouri, Redburn graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1993 and received his master’s degree in Athletics/Activities Administration from William Woods University.

He and his wife, Tracy, have two sons, Joe and Jack.



Kristen Jones

Associate Head Coach

The 2020 campaign marks the fifth season as an assistant coach at Southeast Missouri for Kristen Jones. Jones works primarily with the catchers and handles the team’s travel logistics, as well as overseeing the team’s academics, compliance and recruiting efforts.

Over the last three seasons, Jones has been instrumental in helping the Redhawks improve their overall win total from the previous season, including helping the 2018 squad to 33 wins, the most in 20 years. The 2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Mideast Regional Coaching Staff of the Year, which has posted 118 wins over four years, led the Redhawks to a program record 46 wins in 2019. That season marked just the second 40-win season in program history and capped the most successful four-year stint since the 1998-2001 teams won a combined 125 games over a four-year stretch.

The 2019 season was a magical one for SEMO as the Redhawks claimed the OVC regular-season and tournament crowns, and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years. The Redhawks improved their win total by 13 wins and went 17-5 in OVC play to earn the top seed in the OVC Tournament.

In 2018, catcher Abby Tillotson earned All-OVC honors under Jones’ tutelage. Tillotson batted .287 with seven homers and 24 runs scored. In the field, Tillotson recorded 157 putouts and eight assists with no errors.

The Redhawks eclipsed the 30-win mark for the first time in seven seasons in 2018, collecting the most wins since the 1998 team won 38 games and improving their win total by 10. SEMO used 15 OVC wins to advance to the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2015.

In Jones’ second season (2017), the Redhawks won 23 games, showing a +7 improvement in wins from the previous season after helping SEMO to a 16-33 record, including a 10-17 mark in OVC play in her first season with head coach Mark Redburn and the Redhawks.


Prior to coming to Cape Girardeau, Jones worked as the Coordinator of New Media and Championships for the Peach Belt Conference located in Augusta, Georgia. Jones was in charge of designing championship logos and championship printed materials, website maintenance and multimedia content. She also wrote and published press releases, while managing the conference’s day-to-day social media accounts.

Jones first joined the Peach Belt Conference as a New Media & Programming Intern, a position she held from January 2012-June 2014. She then moved to full-time status in July 2014.

She received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Augusta State University in 2012 and then earned her master’s degree in 2014.As a graduate assistant at Augusta, Jones primarily worked with the hitters and helped with scouting, recruiting and other day-to-day duties as assigned.

Jones enjoyed a successful playing career at Augusta State, garnering National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Second-Team All America and NFCA & Daktronics First Team All-South Region honors in 2011. In addition, Jones was a two-time First-Team All Peach Belt Conference selection (2010, 2011).

Ashley Ellis

Assistant Coach

Ashley Ellis begins her first year as a full-time assistant coach at Southeast Missouri in 2023.

A native of Arnold, Missouri, Ellis spent the 2022 campaign as the Redhawks volunteer assistant coach following a decorated playing career in the Red and Black.

Ellis was a two-time First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference first baseman who broke SEMO’s all-time career records in home runs (53) and RBI (168). She accumulated 228 career starts which rank second all-time in program history from 2017-21. Ellis ranks among the school’s career leaders in slugging percentage (5th, .589), at-bats (5th, 632), hits (7th, 178), total bases (3rd, 372) and walks (7th, 75). She was a member of SEMO’s 2019 OVC Championship team and was an All-Region selection that year as well. Additionally, Ellis holds the Redhawks single-season records in home runs (19, 2021) and RBI (60, 2019).


Mike Forsythe

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Mike Forsythe enters his first season as Southeast Missouri’s volunteer assistant coach.

Forsythe was the pitching coach for one year at New Mexico after spending two seasons in the same role at Big Ten Conference member Maryland. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech where he worked with the pitchers. He was also the pitching coach at the Northern Colorado, Southern Connecticut State, Quinnipiac and Fordham.

At Maryland, the pitching staff dropped its team ERA from 5.84 to 3.10 and had three pitchers with under a 3.00 mark. The pitching staff lowered its opponent batting average from .356 to .249 helping the Terrapins win 19 Big Ten games in 2021, most since joining the conference.

During his time at Louisiana Tech, Forsythe played a big part in helping three Lady Techster pitchers earn First-Team All-Conference USA honors. One of those pitchers, Krystal De La Cruz, was also named C-USA Newcomer of the Year in 2017, while another, Preslee Gallaway, was tabbed C-USA Pitcher of the Year in 2018.

Additionally, the Louisiana Tech pitching staff tossed 18 shutouts during the 2017 campaign, including a 1-0 win over Florida International in the C-USA Championship game. La Tech played 11 games against Power 5 teams, combining for a 2.48 ERA. The pitching staff held seven Top-25 team to two runs or less during the 2018 season.

Forsythe brings experience beyond the collegiate game having served on the pitching staff with the Akron Racers Women’s National Pro Fastpitch League.

He and his wife, Celeste, have two children and two granddaughters.



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