After 33 years of teaching and coaching at the high school level, former Morris head softball coach John Mackinson joins the Lewis softball coaching staff as the Flyers' pitching coach.

Mackinson, who retired from Morris in 2008, served as the Redskins' head softball coach from 1978-96 and accumulated over 400 victories. During his tenure, Mackinson led Morris to the 1992 IHSA Class AA state championship, as well as six regional and nine conference championships. Former Lewis pitchers Roxanne Rude (1984-87) and his daughter Kim Mackinson (1998-2001) pitched for the Redskins during that time.

Along with his teaching responsibilities, Mackinson served as the school's head trainer and assistant basketball coach.

Mackinson also spent time in the dugout during the summer, as he managed both the 18U and 16U Orland Sparks from 1997 through 2002. In 2002, Mackinson was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association Softball Hall of Fame.

The past six summers, he has coached both the 16U and 18U Morris Rowdie Katz and helped the 18U to a third-place finish in the ASA "B" National Tournament.

Mackinson, resides in Morris with his wife of 36 years, Kathy, and the couple has three grown children, John, Kim and Jason.