Katie O’Connell
O’Connell is currently at Romeoville High School as a PE/ health teacher. She is in her 2nd season as the Head softball coach for the Spartans. Before returning to her hometown, Katie coached collegiately at University of Illinois (2009-2015), University of Illinois at Chicago (2015-2016), and IUPUI (2016-2017).
Coach O’Connell returned to her alma mater Illinois, where she served as an assistant coach from 2009-15. Her tenure there produced numerous notable accomplishments, including an explosive 45-8 overall record in 2010 with a 16-2 mark against Big Ten opponents. The Fighting Illini moved on to the NCAA Regionals and picked up a pair of wins over DePaul. Overall, the team went 174-126 in her six seasons, with 14 victories over nationally ranked opponents and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
Before returning to Illinois, O’Connell spent time as a head coach at Casey-Westfield High School in Illinois, where she led her team to a pair Class A state runner-up finishes in back-to-back seasons. As a player, O’Connell was a student-athlete at Illinois from 2001-04. She helped the team to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004, which included a trip to the Sweet 16 in her senior season.
Katie attended Joliet West High School. Coach O’Connell was a 2000 Illinois State Softball Champion for Joliet Township.
