Bradley University Athletics

Former All-American pitcher Jackie Bishop joined the Bradley Softball program as an assistant coach for the 2018 season and is in her second year on The Hilltop after spending the previous two seasons as part of the coaching staff at two-time defending national champion Oklahoma.

Bishop came to The Hilltop after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Oklahoma for the past two seasons, where she assisted with pitching staff as the Sooners claimed both the 2016 and 2017 national titles.  She also assisted with Oklahoma’s scouting, recruiting and player development.  A 2015 graduate of Missouri Western State with a degree in exercise science, Bishop is recently finished up work toward a master’s in administrative leadership from Oklahoma.

She had an immediate impact on the Bradley pitching staff in her first season, helping the Braves post their lowest team ERA (3.79) since 2014.  Working with a group of hurlers which did not include a senior, Bishop helped Bradley pitchers combine for the fewest walks surrendered since the 2013 campaign.  In addition to the most shutouts since 2014, BU’s opponents hit .288 for the lowest opponent average since that same season and the 2018 campaign also included the fewest opponent homers since 2009. 

Prior to her time in Norman, Okla., Bishop ventured into coaching at her alma mater spending the 2014-15 school year as undergraduate assistant coach at Missouri Western State as she finished work toward her degree.  

Bishop was a two-time All-American pitcher at Missouri Western State, taking home first-team honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association as a senior.  She posted a 96-29 overall record in the circle for the Griffons during her collegiate career and held school records for career wins (96), strikeouts (977), innings (828), appearances (142), complete games (105) and shutouts (29).  

The 2013-14 Missouri Western State Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Bishop was part of two Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association championship teams and was a Second-Team Daktronics All-American choice following a sophomore season which included a 24-5 record.  

A native of Kirksville, Mo., she set the Missouri State High School Activities Association record for strikeouts in a season, fanning 380 batters as a senior at Kirksville High School.