Coaches

Jessica Sanders

Jessica Sanders is in her first year as the Head Coach of the Night Hawks softball program and ninth overall in 2022. Sanders spent the last eight seasons as TU's assistant coach and Head Coach for the program's JV team.


Prior to her time at Thomas University, Sanders spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Shorter University. During her tenure at Shorter, the Lady Hawks captured the NAIA National Softball Championship in 2012 and finished second in the NCCAA National Tournament in 2013.


Before her time at Shorter, Sanders spent one season at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. In the program’s inaugural season, Our Lady finished as the regular season conference runner-up in the Red River Conference.


Sanders began her collegiate playing career at the University of West Georgia. She currently sits second on the university’s single-season home run record list with 15. Sanders completed this impressive record in her freshman season (2005). Following her freshman season, Sanders transferred to Shorter from West Georgia and was an All-SSAC performer in 2006, 2007, and 2008 for the Lady Hawks. In 2006, Sanders was named SSAC Player of the Year as a sophomore when she set Shorter’s single-season home run record with 16. Her .924 single season slugging percentage remains the record at Shorter. Sanders, a two-time NAIA All-American, is also Shorter’s career leader in home runs (37) and batting average (.400). She ranks second all-time in Shorter history in doubles and RBI. In 2013, Sanders was inducted into the Shorter University Hall of Fame as the first softball player in the Hall’s history.


A native of Bowdon, Ga., Sanders holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from the University of West Georgia and a Master of Art in Leadership from Shorter University. Currently, Sanders resides in Thomasville, Ga.