Sports

Linn-Mar Softball Coach Steps Down After One Year

Coach Mike Shipley has stepped down, saying he'd like to spend more time with his family.


Linn-Mar is in the process of searching for a new coach for its softball team.

Iowa Prep Sports has reported that previous softball coach Mike Shipley has decided to step down so he can spend more time with his family.

Shipley steps down at Linn-Mar (Prep Sports)

“My kids are getting older and are becoming involved in their own activities,” Shipley said Thursday. “I felt I was missing too many games and practices. Those are things you can’t get back.”

Shipley coached just one year at the school before stepping down after posting a 16-22 record according to Prep Sports. 

Coach Shipley's bio from the Linn-Mar softball page lists him as having a successful stint coaching at lower levels for the Linn-MAr baseball team before moving over to varsity softball:

Shipley spent 13 years coaching baseball at Linn-Mar prior to taking over the softball program.

Shipley was the head 9th grade coach in 1998 and 2000, varsity assistant from 2001-2007, and head 10th grade coach from 2009-2012. His sophomore teams finished 85-39 (.685) during the past four seasons, winning two MVC championships and finishing second the other two seasons. Shipley also coached football at Linn-Mar from 1999-2009, with five of those seasons as a varsity assistant.

Coach Shipley graduated from Linn-Mar HS in 1993 where he was all-state in both football and baseball. He went on to play baseball at Loras College, where he graduated in 1997 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. He has worked at Linn-Mar as a Student Assistance Specialist since 2004.

Think you've got what it takes to coach the varsity Lions softball team? Well the Linn-Mar school district has posted openings for both head coach and assistant coach positions on its website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Marion