When McMurry University announced the addition of a softball program on October 19, 2016, it looked to one of its own to become the first head coach in program history. McMurry alumnus and former Abilene High School head coach David McNally was announced as head coach on March 28, 2017.
McNally has completed five seasons at the helm and has compiled a 101-104 record for the upstart program. After two years of building the program from scratch, McNally has compiled a 78-49 record over the last four seasons.
The 2023 season continued to add to their head coach's impressive contributions to McMurry's campus. The War Hawks positioned themselves throughout the always-rugged American Southwest Conference's top five and advanced to the conference tournament. En route to setting a new single-season wins standard (26), the Maroon and White captured back-to-back victories, the program's first such feat at the ASC tourney, on day one to be one of only two unbeaten schools going into thr second day before being knocked in a pair of close-knit contests. Twelve individuals received all-league honors.
The 2022 season - team five - brought much success for the program, as McNally led the War Hawks to their first-ever postseason win at the 2022 American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament. McMurry defeated No. 6 seed UT Dallas by a 2-1 final on May 5 before a heart-breaking 3-2 elimination loss to No. 3 UMHB - who was nationally ranked. The team finished 21-18 and broke a school record for wins, while placing a team-record nine players on the all-conference list. Fifteen players also earned academic all-conference honors.
The War Hawks completed their first full winning season in 2021 with an 18-14 record, appearing in the American Southwest Conference Championship tournament for the first time in program history. McNally also led the War Hawks to their first taste of national attention as McMurry received a vote for the NFCA national poll for the first time in program history. McMurry also took two of three games from No. 2 East Texas Baptist, marking the first series win over a ranked opponent for the first time in program history. Six players earned all-conference honors and sophomore pitcher Kinleigh Stotts won ASC West Pitcher of the Week three weeks in a row.
McNally had the War Hawks off to a record start in 2020, opening the season 13-2, 8-1 ASC before the remainder of the season was canceled due to COVID-19. The War Hawks ushered in a new stadium, Edwards Field in February 2020, and posted a 9-1 home record. The 13 wins tied the program record set in 2018.
The 2019 season saw a five-game winning streak to open the year, as the team went on to a 13-25 finish against a strong American Southwest Conference gauntlet. McNally's team finished 8-19 in conference play as a second year program.
In the team's inaugural season in 2018, the War Hawks went 10-30 overall and 6-24 in the American Southwest Conference. But the future of the program was recognized by a pair of players - Rachel Ripley and Ashley McClellan - receiving both All-ASC and All-NCCAA Central Region honors. Ripley was also an NFCA third team All-West Region selection.
McNally had been the head coach for the AHS Eagles since 2014. Prior to that, he served as the program’s assistant coach for seven seasons (2008-14), also assisting in basketball and volleyball. He worked, concurrently, as a teacher (Algebra) for AHS.
McNally earned his bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from McMurry in 2007. He also played baseball for McM for two seasons under former head coach Lee Driggers. McNally graduated from Abilene’s Cooper High School (where he played golf for the Cougars) in 2003, after spending his first three high school years at Ruidoso (N.M.) High School. At RHS, he was a three-year varsity baseball player and wrestler, earning academic honors as a prep.
McNally resides in Abilene with his wife, Julie, and daughters, Grace and Addison.
WATCH: "A Walk With The War Hawks" - David McNally
