LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Jess McKewn Dannelly has been named as the Assistant Coach for the University of West Alabama Softball team in an announcement by Carie Dever-Boaz on Wednesday.

"I am excited to add McKewn to my staff. He has a wealth of knowledge and a passion for this game," said Dever-Boaz. "We have known each other for 20 years and work very well together.  I look for him to make an immediate impact for us for our offense."

Dannelly joins the staff by way of Conway, S.C. where he was the Assistant Coach for Carolina Forrest High School for the past three seasons. He helped the team to 31 wins over three years, earning a place in the district finals and state playoffs in both of the last two years. During his time there, he has worked with nine All-Region players, two All-State selections and two South Carolina All-Star selections.

While at Carolina Forest High, Dannelly also spent the last two seasons as the head coach for the Coastal Lighting Organization as well. In his first year at the helm he led the team to 30 wins and a "Battle at the Beach" championship.

Prior to CFHS, he was the head coach for Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J. for two seasons and head coach for Louisiana State University at Alexandria for one season. At Georgian Court he posted a 65-48 overall record through both years, while leading LSU-Alexandria to the program's first ever All-Conference Tournament appearance. Under his leadership, LSU-Alexandria went on to set school records in batting avg., runs, hits, doubles, homeruns, runs batted-in, total bases and walks.

Dannelly has made previous assistant coaching stops as well at the University of Mississippi (2005-2008), University of South Carolina Upstate (2004-2005) and Coastal Carolina University (1997-2003). He saw Ole Miss to three Southeastern Conference Tournament appearances, helped USC-Upstate to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2005, as well as three Big South Conference Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances at Coastal Carolina.

Dannelly is a 2003 graduate of Coastal Carolina with a Bachelor's of Science in Physical Education.