McAuley Taps Alumna To Lead Varsity Softball Program

CHICAGO, IL -- A former three-sport athlete at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School has been tapped as the new head varsity coach of the school’s softball program. Kathleen Mixan, a graduate from the Class of 2003, assumed the role of counselor at McAuley in September.

While a student at McAuley, Mixan played varsity softball all four years. Mixan was a three sport athlete also playing basketball and volleyball. She attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she earned a bachelor’s in arts and sciences in applied psychology and played softball her freshman year. Mixan played for the storied Beverly Bandits 14U-18U under Bill Conroy and helped win the Bandit’s first National Title. She later went on to earn her master’s in school counseling from Northeastern Illinois University and a second master’s in educational leadership from the American College of Education in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Most recently, Mixan worked as a school counselor at J. Sterling Morton West High School in Berwyn and is currently the lead college/athletic counselor for Lighthouse College Planning in Chicago.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kathleen Mixan back to McAuley,” said Nikki Carey ’02, director of counseling. “She is a wonderful addition to our counseling staff, bringing a unique perspective and expertise.”

In addition to counseling, Mixan brings tremendous knowledge and experience in coaching. Since 2013, she served as the head JV girls’ volleyball coach and assistant varsity softball coach at St. Ignatius College Prep; in 2015 the softball team placed fourth in state. Prior to that, Mixan coached the varsity girls’ volleyball team at Plainfield East High School and the varsity boys’ volleyball at St. Rita of Cascia High School where they finished in the Elite Eight in 2010.
From 2007 to 2010 Mixan was the head freshmen and JV assistant volleyball coach and freshmen softball coach at Mother McAuley, and she is happy to once again be back at her alma mater.

“McAuley’s academic and athletic program provided me with the confidence and skills needed to be successful in college and my career,” Mixan said in a news release. “I am excited to be back to build upon Mother McAuley’s prestigious athletic program and take the softball program to the next level. It is an honor to be a part of a program that I loved playing for throughout my high school career, and I plan to ‘pay forward’ the values, beliefs, and traditions McAuley instilled in me, to the young woman ready to embark on their new journey.”

Mixan already has plans to host free clinics for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students on Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. For more information and to register online, visit the Mother McAuley website.