The University of Mississippi Athletics
Kara Shutt Selected as Softball Volunteer Assistant Coach
8/5/2020 | Softball
Former Elon Star Joining Jamie Trachsel’s Staff
OXFORD, Miss. – On Wednesday, Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel completed her first Rebel coaching staff with the addition of former NFCA All-American outfielder Kara Shutt as volunteer assistant coach.
"I want to welcome Kara Shutt and her family into our Ole Miss softball program and family," said Trachsel. "Kara's character, work ethic, versatility, and experience make her a great fit for our staff and our volunteer coach position."
Shutt joins the Rebel staff after spending the last two seasons as a graduate manager at fellow SEC foe South Carolina. Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Shutt was a standout for four seasons at Elon, collecting three First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association nods.
"I am very excited to join the Ole Miss coaching staff," said Shutt. "I want to thank head coach Jamie Trachsel for allowing me this opportunity. I am looking forward to learning from a great staff and helping build a championship team at Ole Miss. I cannot think of a better staff or university to begin my coaching career with and anticipate a successful season.
"I also want to thank University of South Carolina head coach Beverly Smith for allowing me to work and learn under her staff for the last two years. I am truly grateful for her leadership and willingness to help me grow not only as a coach but as a person as well."
During her playing days, Shutt put together one of the finest careers in Elon history, setting the Phoenix' all-time record for career doubles with 63, while ranking second in school history with 253 career hits. The three-time NFCA All-Region honoree's 142 runs and .373 batting average rank third in the Elon record book, while her 114 runs batted in is good for the fourth most in program-history.
Having already established herself as a program great, Shutt put an emphatic cap on her career as a senior in 2018, becoming the second Elon player ever to be named an NFCA All-American. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native's .425 batting average set a single season record for the Phoenix, also tying her own single season record with 21 doubles. Shutt also finished the season as the team leader in hits (74), runs (42), triples (3), slugging percentage (.580) and on-base percentage (.474).
As a junior in 2017, Shutt earned her second First Team All-CAA nod after registering a .333 batting average, including a team-high .375 mark in league play. Among the outfielder's 54 hits were seven doubles, three triples and a trio of homers. On the year, Shutt scored 28 runs and drove in 21 more.
The Gate City products garnered her first of three First Team All-CAA laurels during her sophomore campaign, also reeling in First Team NFCA All-Region honors with one of the best statistical seasons in the history of Elon softball. Shutt led the team with a .399 average at the plate, also pacing the Phoenix in hits (69), total bases (104), slugging percentage (.601) and runs scored (37). Shutt's 0.43 doubles per game ranked as the third highest average in the nation.
As a freshman in 2015, Shutt made an immediate impact, earning CAA All-Rookie Team recognition. On the way to being named Third Team NFCA All-Region, Shutt hit for a .331 average, leading the team with a .521 slugging percentage and 14 doubles. Shutt also drove in 44 RBIs to lead Elon, the most ever by a Phoenix freshman and the second most in school-history.
"Kara is a winner and self-starter," said Trachsel. "Her drive and commitment to her growth and development as a coach, along with her experience and success both as a player and part of the coaching staff at South Carolina the last two years will make her a valuable piece of our coaching staff here at Ole Miss. We look forward to all of the great attributes this young woman brings with her, as a person and coach, as she joins us in our efforts to build and sustain a championship culture here at Ole Miss."
Shutt graduated from Elon with a bachelor's degree in sport management in 2018, earning her master's degree in the same field from South Carolina in 2020.
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
"I want to welcome Kara Shutt and her family into our Ole Miss softball program and family," said Trachsel. "Kara's character, work ethic, versatility, and experience make her a great fit for our staff and our volunteer coach position."
Shutt joins the Rebel staff after spending the last two seasons as a graduate manager at fellow SEC foe South Carolina. Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Shutt was a standout for four seasons at Elon, collecting three First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association nods.
"I am very excited to join the Ole Miss coaching staff," said Shutt. "I want to thank head coach Jamie Trachsel for allowing me this opportunity. I am looking forward to learning from a great staff and helping build a championship team at Ole Miss. I cannot think of a better staff or university to begin my coaching career with and anticipate a successful season.
"I also want to thank University of South Carolina head coach Beverly Smith for allowing me to work and learn under her staff for the last two years. I am truly grateful for her leadership and willingness to help me grow not only as a coach but as a person as well."
During her playing days, Shutt put together one of the finest careers in Elon history, setting the Phoenix' all-time record for career doubles with 63, while ranking second in school history with 253 career hits. The three-time NFCA All-Region honoree's 142 runs and .373 batting average rank third in the Elon record book, while her 114 runs batted in is good for the fourth most in program-history.
Having already established herself as a program great, Shutt put an emphatic cap on her career as a senior in 2018, becoming the second Elon player ever to be named an NFCA All-American. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native's .425 batting average set a single season record for the Phoenix, also tying her own single season record with 21 doubles. Shutt also finished the season as the team leader in hits (74), runs (42), triples (3), slugging percentage (.580) and on-base percentage (.474).
As a junior in 2017, Shutt earned her second First Team All-CAA nod after registering a .333 batting average, including a team-high .375 mark in league play. Among the outfielder's 54 hits were seven doubles, three triples and a trio of homers. On the year, Shutt scored 28 runs and drove in 21 more.
The Gate City products garnered her first of three First Team All-CAA laurels during her sophomore campaign, also reeling in First Team NFCA All-Region honors with one of the best statistical seasons in the history of Elon softball. Shutt led the team with a .399 average at the plate, also pacing the Phoenix in hits (69), total bases (104), slugging percentage (.601) and runs scored (37). Shutt's 0.43 doubles per game ranked as the third highest average in the nation.
As a freshman in 2015, Shutt made an immediate impact, earning CAA All-Rookie Team recognition. On the way to being named Third Team NFCA All-Region, Shutt hit for a .331 average, leading the team with a .521 slugging percentage and 14 doubles. Shutt also drove in 44 RBIs to lead Elon, the most ever by a Phoenix freshman and the second most in school-history.
"Kara is a winner and self-starter," said Trachsel. "Her drive and commitment to her growth and development as a coach, along with her experience and success both as a player and part of the coaching staff at South Carolina the last two years will make her a valuable piece of our coaching staff here at Ole Miss. We look forward to all of the great attributes this young woman brings with her, as a person and coach, as she joins us in our efforts to build and sustain a championship culture here at Ole Miss."
Shutt graduated from Elon with a bachelor's degree in sport management in 2018, earning her master's degree in the same field from South Carolina in 2020.
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball, on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball and on Instagram at Instagram.com/olemisssoftball. Also, follow head coach Jamie Trachsel on Twitter at @Jamie_Trachsel.
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