Former Auburn University infield standout Kyndall White has been named East Mississippi Community College’s new head softball coach.

“I am very honored and excited about being named the head softball coach at East Mississippi Community College,” White said.  “It has always been a dream of mine to coach softball at the collegiate level, so I’m very grateful to (EMCC President) Dr. Rick Young and (EMCC Vice President/Director of Athletics) Mickey Stokes for giving me this tremendous opportunity.  I am looking forward to getting started with the team and becoming a part of the EMCC family.”

White replaces Kate Neely, who guided the EMCC Lady Lions to four consecutive MACJC State Tournament appearances before becoming the school’s event coordinator following the 2012 softball season.  Neely guided the Lady Lions to the 2011 MACJC North Division regular-season title on the way to earning EMCC’s first NJCAA Region 23 Softball Tournament berth since 2002.

“Kyndall White quickly rose to the top of our list of applicants for our softball coaching position.  She comes to East Mississippi Community College with outstanding credentials, and we will look to her to help take our established softball program to the next level,” EMCC’s Stokes noted.  “Kyndall displays tremendous leadership qualities and owns an excellent knowledge of the game.  Her playing and coaching experience at Auburn University will definitely serve her well in guiding and molding the all-around talents of our softball student-athletes here at EMCC.”

White takes over EMCC’s softball coaching duties following her five-year association with veteran head coach Tina Deese at Auburn University.  Upon finishing her Lady Tiger career in 2011 ranked among Auburn’s Top-10 career statistical leaders in home runs (28), runs batted in (100), hits (186), doubles (41), runs scored (107), slugging percentage (.474) and stolen bases (27), White stayed on campus to serve on Deese’s AU coaching staff during the 2012 season.

Voted by her Auburn teammates to serve as a three-time team captain dating back to her sophomore campaign, White remained on staff to assist in all aspects of the Lady Tigers’ daily softball operations this past year.  With White assisting in the organization of day-to-day practices, including the instruction of defensive skill development and aiding with the development of hitting and bunting techniques, the 2012 Lady Tiger club made a fifth straight NCAA Regional Tournament appearance.   

Having started all 221 games in which she played during her four-year collegiate career at Auburn, White helped lead the Lady Tigers to a composite record of 139-96, including four consecutive berths in NCAA Regional Tournament play.  During White’s senior year, the 2011 AU squad went 40-19 overall and 15-13 in the SEC’s demanding Western Division to finish third in the division for the third time in four years.

Following a productive sophomore season in which she topped the Lady Tigers in hits (55), doubles (11), total bases (83) and runs scored (26) en route to hitting .275 on the year, White’s best season came a year later as a junior.  Despite missing 14 games due to an injury in 2010, White was selected All-SEC Second Team by a vote of the league’s coaches after hitting a team-leading .356 with a club-high 14 home runs and 34 RBIs.  In addition to hitting the third-most homers in a season in school history, White also led the 2010 Lady Tigers in doubles (11), total bases (100), slugging percentage (.758) and on-base percentage (.418).  Defensively, she only committed five errors in 102 chances at third base for a .951 fielding percentage.  In May of her junior season, White collected SEC Player of the Week recognition.

Off the field during her junior year, White garnered SEC Academic Honor Roll accolades and was a member of Auburn’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she engaged in discussions regarding support for AU’s other athletic teams along with participating in community service projects.

Throughout her collegiate career with the Lady Tigers, White also served as an instructor during Auburn’s annual summer softball camp.  Responsible for 150 campers, White helped instruct defense and hitting drills in addition to organizing camp activities and supervising dorms.

With a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Auburn, White was previously a four-time all-state performer for head coach C.J. Hawkins at Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Ala.  Along with starring all four years in softball for the Lady Cougars, White also played volleyball and basketball as a prep freshman.

A native Alabaman from the Birmingham area, White is the daughter of Scott and Rhonda White.