"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
Janaé Shirley is entering her 18th season as Head Softball Coach at East Texas Baptist University, where she also serves as Senior Women's Administrator. Prior to becoming the head coach, she served as assistant coach for volleyball and softball for 2 seasons. Coach Shirley earned an associate degree from Midland College, where her team advanced twice to the National Championship; she then went on to play and graduate from East Texas Baptist University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2005. She also earned her Masters in Education in Sports and Exercise Leadership from ETBU. Over 17 seasons as head coach, her record is 596-159, and she has won 7 conference championships, 4 NCAA Regional Championships, 2 NCAA Super Regional Championships, and 2 National Championships. Along with winning, her program has set high academic standards and made team discipleship a priority. The 2016-17 team will travel on their first international sports mission trip to Costa Rica in December 2016 in then Australia in December 2022. She has had 9 players voted CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 8 ASC Softball Distinguished Scholar-Athletes, and numerous ASC All-Academic team members. Both Lya Swaner, Ashton Brey, Jayme Perez, and Ashley Croft earned the ASC’s nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year, while Swaner was a Top 9 Finalist. Tristen Maddox became the first ETBU athlete to be selected as the Honda Cup Division III Athlete of the Year and NFCA Player of the Year.
Shirley has made ETBU softball a Christ-centered program with national prominence. She is married to ETBU alumnus Guy, who played one season of baseball at ETBU. They have been married since the summer of 2007 and have two boys, Carter (14) and Major (10).