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Millikin’s Coffman thriving in two-sport collegiate career
Bailey Coffman is in the midst of her sophomore basketball season at Millikin University and has helped the Big Blue to a 5-3 record so far this winter. (Courtesy: Millikin University Athletics)

Millikin’s Coffman thriving in two-sport collegiate career

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (BVM) — Like many athletes, Bailey Coffman grew up playing multiple sports, and continued doing so through high school. But unlike many others, she has impressively continued her multi-sport career in college at Millikin University.

The 20-year-old began playing basketball and softball when she was little, in large part due to her family history in both sports. Coffman’s grandfather used to be a fastball softball pitcher, which piqued her interest in the same position. 

Meanwhile, her mother, Debbie, has been a long-time basketball coach at Bloomington Catholic Central High School, leading Bailey to be around the hardwood her entire life. In fact, Debbie has been head coach of the Saints’ girls basketball team for the past 23 years.

“I’ve been a part of her program ever since I was the ball girl when I was younger,” Bailey said. “I think the biggest thing I’ve learned from her over the years is how to be passionate about the game and how to enjoy the people you get to experience it with.”

Bailey also added volleyball to her repertoire in fifth grade, leading her to play the same three sports that her mom did in high school. Debbie would go on to play volleyball at Eureka College, the same school which Bailey’s dad played basketball at.

Over the years, Bailey developed into a solid pitcher on the diamond, and a standout post player on the hardwood. Playing multiple sports as her parents did growing up has given Bailey some great lessons along the way.

Thanks to her mom being a long-time coach at Bloomington Central Catholic High School, Bailey Coffman grew up around the game of basketball and quickly grew a passion for it. (Courtesy: Millikin University Athletics)

“I think as a multi-sport athlete, there has been a wide range of skills and lessons I’ve been able to apply to more than one sport,” Bailey noted. “In terms of basketball and softball, basketball has allowed me to enter the softball season conditioned and in shape, whereas pitching has allowed me to find ways to be more explosive at basketball.”

Going into high school, Bailey continued to shine in all three sports. It began in volleyball, where she started on the JV team as a freshman. But after an injury to a varsity starter, Bailey got her opportunity to play in what was a special postseason run for the Saints, culminating with a state championship. 

“It was a great experience and great start to my high school career,” Bailey said. “We had a lot of talented upperclassmen at the time, so one of my favorite parts of winning that state championship was being able to play alongside such talented players. They really helped me develop as a player that year.”

As good as Bailey’s career continued to be on the volleyball court, it was made even more special on the softball field. Bailey and her 2019 class would account for over 100 wins across their four years playing, and also won the Saints’ first regional title in program history.

“It was a great feeling to help take the program to new heights,” Bailey mentioned. “We had a lot of talented players in the classes ahead of us, and I think we created a lot of good team wins together throughout my four years there.”

But perhaps the most impressive moments of the three-sport star’s high school career came on the basketball court. Throughout her time at Bloomington Central Catholic, Bailey was a force on the defensive end, setting program-best marks for blocks in a game, blocks in a season and career blocks.

Meanwhile, Bailey was no less dangerous offensively, as she scored over 1,000 career points, and also set a program record for free throws made in a season. From sophomore year on, Bailey was recognized as an all-area first-team and all-conference player. She was also named second-team all-state as a sophomore when she helped lead the Saints to a runner-up finish at state.

As special as her play was, Bailey especially cherished the moments she was able to spend alongside her mom, her other coaches and teammates as well.

“My mom and her assistant coach (Mendy Smith) really created a family atmosphere through their program,” Bailey said. “My favorite parts of playing were the memories I created with some of my best friends on the team and the success we were able to experience throughout the years.

“There were times where my mom was pretty hard on me, but l think looking back it really challenged me to develop into a better basketball player. We did a good job of keeping our two relationships separate. When I was a freshman, I didn’t have my license so there were a couple quiet car rides, but we always managed to keep what happened at basketball back at the gym.”

In addition to her packed athletic schedule, Bailey also found time to be an exceptional student at Bloomington Central Catholic, as well as give back through volunteer work. Some of her fondest memories include working with the Special Olympics.

“Special Olympics was one of my favorites to work because I was able to see and interact with other people who share a love for sports,” she said. “It was very rewarding to see the happiness and joy that came from such a great program.”

With immense talent in three different sports, Bailey had a decision to make of what she wanted to continue with at the next level. While volleyball was never really considered, the 20-year-old claims she wanted to play softball early in her high school career, but then started thinking about playing college basketball as a junior and senior. 

Undecided on what she wanted to play at the next level while in high school, Bailey Coffman has ended up playing both basketball and softball at Millikin University. (Photo: Aubrey Staton)

As a junior, Bailey began her recruiting process still not sure of what she wanted to play. Throughout that year, she had several schools offer her to play both basketball and softball, specifically within the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). 

After her junior year, Bailey began talking to one of those CCIW schools, Millikin University, as women’s basketball coach Olivia Lett began recruiting her.

Millikin had been very accepting of Bailey wanting to play two sports throughout the process. By senior year, that idea began becoming more of a reality.

“Millikin had always been super receptive to me playing two sports, as they had players in the past who were able to do both,” Bailey explained. “Both Coach Lett, Coach Katie Tenboer, and Coach Whitney Sowers were always on board and willing to work with me on continuing to play both. They also came and watched me play softball, basketball and even volleyball throughout my senior year.”

Although she had some other considerations, it was that growing relationship with her future coaches that ultimately landed Bailey at Millikin.

“I had developed a relationship with all my coaches here at Millikin that really allowed me to see myself being a fit to their programs at the time,” Bailey added.

In her freshman year for the Big Blue, Bailey had to adjust to the physicality and speed of college basketball, as well as the strength and competitiveness of softball. She is proud of how far she came along in her first year, learning what it takes to be a collegiate athlete.

“I think in both sports, my biggest accomplishment was just finding ways to adjust to the extra effort it takes to succeed at the college level,” Bailey said. “In high school, you can sometimes get by with talent, but in college it takes more and I feel like in both sports I was able to find that extra effort.”

Some unfortunate adversity would strike however when the remainder of her first college softball season was canceled due to the pandemic last spring. After a strong start to the campaign, it was a heartbreaking shock for Bailey and her team.

After having her freshman softball season cut short last year, Bailey Coffman is eager to get back on the field this spring. (Courtesy: Bailey Coffman)

“It was definitely not something I had ever expected for my freshman season,” the Millikin sophomore said. “We had a really strong start to our season on spring break and it was disappointing to not experience even more success after we got back. The bond that team had was super strong and it was tough to leave that behind so quickly.”

The adversity and uncertainty from spring carried over to the fall and her sophomore basketball season. Not knowing if and when she and her team would play was difficult, but Bailey credits the team for sticking together and being ready once games finally began. Currently, the Big Blue sit at 5-3, with Bailey averaging over 11 points and four rebounds per game.

For the remainder of her season on the hardwood and into her softball season this spring, Bailey hopes to contribute to her teams in any way possible to make them successful. She also strives for plenty more success by the time she is done at Millikin.

“I think anyone who looks back at their college career of course is hoping to have a couple different titles whether it be a conference title or NCAA title,” Bailey said. “That ultimately is a huge goal for me and my teams, but I think there are, and will be, so many small successes to look back on as well.”

Whether high school or college, Bailey’s athletic career has been nothing short of impressive. She hopes she left a strong legacy at Bloomington Central Catholic, and continues to relish in the moment of being a rare two-sport collegiate athlete at Millikin.

“Among some of the success I was able to have with my teams at Central Catholic, I hope the legacy left behind comes from the type of teammate and leader I aimed to be,” Bailey concluded. “I remember when I was younger going to my mom’s games, I always looked up to the girls in the locker room and the type of people they were off the court. I hope I leave the same legacy for the girls behind me.

“It can be overwhelming to play two sports, but I think my teammates and coaches have made it a lot easier to be able to be a part of both teams. I am proud of myself for finding ways to contribute to both sports, but I think a lot of the credit goes to the people around me helping me to accomplish it.”