Emerson High School Athletics are fueled by the dedication of our coaches, with one coach in particular taking her impact across the world.
Softball coach Dr. Iyhia McMichael, known to Emerson students and staff as Coach Mac, ranks in the NCAA D1 top 15 for career triples, was the inaugural National Pro Fastpitch player of the year, and holds a doctorate in educational leadership. She has recently come back from assistant coaching Team USA at the Women’s Softball World Cup in Tokyo, Japan where the team won gold.
“They recently started a U-15 softball team for Team USA and I was chosen to be one of the assistant coaches,” McMichael said, “Not only was I one of the assistant coaches, but I was unanimously chosen for that which is pretty cool.”
Among many accomplishments, Coach Mac played Division One softball for Mississippi State where she was a back-to-back SEC Player of the Year. She then played professional softball for the Akron Racers until 2007. Even though she concluded her time as a pro, she knew softball wasn’t done with her yet.
“I got a business degree with a minor in marketing and that’s what I wanted to do but I was not done playing softball so the only other career that would allow me to take the entire summer off was coaching. I started coaching collegiately while working on my masters,” McMichael said.
After coming to Emerson, Coach Mac’s dedication has made an impact on her students both on and off the field.
“She just leads with fidelity every game. I’ve never had the honor of having her as a teacher but she has been my coach and I’ve learned so much from her not just as an athlete but what I’m going to be doing in the real world,” Junior Madison Mintz said.
Coach Mac has used her skills in softball to become a mentor to young women in the sport, as well as being an English teacher.
“She’s really good about giving people space to ask questions and asking those questions that you need to reflect on your own practices,” English teacher Khadeeja Miandara said. “When she’s with her students she holds them to a high standard.”
“I just fell in love with the idea of coaching,” McMichael said “I feel like teaching and coaching chose me because I definitely didn’t choose it, but I’m glad that I did.”
