Mat Mundell is in his fifth full season as the head softball coach at Illinois Springfield and in his tenure has taken the Praire Stars to unprecedented heights.
Mundell has coached 24 Academic All-GLVC selections, 15 NFCA All-American Scholar-Athletes, three GLVC Council of President's Academic Excellence Award, four NAIA Academic All-Americans and two Division II ADA Academic Acheivement honorees.
The 2012 campaign was a milestone one for Mundell and the Prairie Stars. UIS had its best season ever, winning 36 games and the Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division championship. The program made its first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance (the first appearence for any sport in school history). The Praire Stars, who also reached the GLVC Tournament and the NCAA Midwest Regional championship games, bosted four all-conference performers and two all-region players.
Mundell’s 2012 team also rewrote the school’s offensive record books as his squad posted school records for team batting average (.268), runs scored (263), runs batted in (220), home runs (33) and walks (142).
In his second full season with the Prairie Stars, Mundell guided the program to one of the most successful seasons in its history as the Stars finished with 15 wins, the most since 2008.
In 2010, Mundell’s first full season at the helm of the Stars, UIS experienced a huge turnaround winning 14 games in their first season of Division II competition, an improvement of 11 victories over the 2009 season.
The Prairie Stars have earned a team a GPA of 3.20 or higher in every season which Mundell has coached.
Mundell took over the Prairie Stars in March of 2009 and guided the program through the remainder of the season. After being winless prior to his arrival UIS finished the campaign on an upswing, winning three of its last four contests. Individually, Brianne Moeller was named first team All-American Midwest Conference, while Nicole McAfee was an honorable mention selection. Those two, along with five other Prairie Stars, were honored by the league on the All-Academic team as well. Four student-athletes – Jessica Tittsworth, Kristan Delafeld, Moeller and McAfee were also honored on the NAIA Scholar-Athlete team.
Mundell worked with the UIS men's basketball team prior to taking over the softball program. He helped teach and instruct players during practice, individual workouts and games. His key responsibilities included working with the Prairie Star centers and power forwards. He also assisted with scouting and creating game plans.
Mundell graduated from Eureka College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Art. He participated in football for one year and in tennis for three years. In his senior season, Mat was a No. 3 doubles conference champion and finished second playing No. 6 singles. He did not lose a regular season conference singles or doubles match as a senior. He was named to the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference All Conference Team for his efforts.
A Normal Community High School graduate, Mundell participated in baseball, basketball, football and tennis and was a product of the American Legion baseball program. After his baseball career concluded, Mundell played competitive softball.
Mundell was elected to the Eureka College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 in his first year of eligibility. Mat and his wife, Kelly, reside in Springfield, Ill.
