Keylon-Randolph Fastpitch Softball Academy, under direction of Chattanooga State Head Coach Beth Keylon-Randolph, is designed to provide each student with the proper fundamentals for quality pitching, catching, hitting, and position work. Beth brings over 32 years of playing and coaching experience, knowledge, and leadership to the school. She has spent 15 years coaching in Top 25 NCAA and NJCAA Division I schools and was voted the 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2008 Region VII Coach of the Year. She was chosen as the Co-Head Coach for Team USA that played in the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand.  Three players, Vicki McCoy, Brittany Kopcsak and Meagan Masingale, from Chattanooga State’s 2007 Squad where chosen to play for Team USA in Bangkok.  Under her leadership  at Chattanooga State, she has coached 17 NJCAA All-Americans and 9 Distinguished Academic All-Americans. She has developed a 1st Team All-American, a 2nd and 3rd Team All-American, the Region VII Pitcher of the Year, the Region VII MVP, the SEC Tournament MVP as well as the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year. The 2009 Squad at Chattanooga State earned the first ever #1 national ranking in April 2009 while finishing the year ranked #4 with a 60-9 record.  The 2008 Squad at Chattanooga State finished the season with a 59-9 record along with a #2 National ranking and a 3rd place finish (the highest ever for a Chattanooga State team) at the National Tournament.  The 2008 pitching staff led the Nation in ERA.  Her 2006 Squad finished the season with the Nation’s second highest batting average.  The 2007 squad finished the season with a 52-14 record and a final #4 ranking in the Nation.  In 8 years as a Head Coach, Beth has compiled a record of 428 wins against 89 losses.  Before taking the helm at Chattanooga State, Beth served as an assistant coach with Ralph and Karen Weekly at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. While at UTC, her pitching staff was awarded the SoCon Pitcher of the Week 6 times, winning the SoCon Tournament and advancing to the NCAA Championships. Prior to UTC, Beth assisted Joyce Compton at the University of South Carolina in winning the 1999 and 2000 SEC Eastern Division Title as well as the 2000 SEC Tournament.

In addition to her coaching experience, Beth adds a stellar playing career to her understanding and knowledge of the game. She was selected to Tennessee Tech Softball’s Inaugural Wall of Fame in April 2004 and earned the Distinguished Honor of Being inducted into the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame in Nov. 2004. She was voted the 1994 NCAA Woman of the Year and Tennessee Tech Female Athlete of the Year.  Beth has played against some of the finest players in our country.  As the starting pitcher for the Tennessee Stars against the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team and 1998 Team USA, Keylon-Randolph knows how to excel at the international level. Noted as an outstanding pitcher and hitter throughout the nation, Beth’s experience on and off the field make Keylon-Randolph Fastpitch Softball Academy one of the premier softball schools in the country.

Lead Instructor,                                                                                Melissa Hendon

Melissa was not only a record setting pitcher at Chattanooga State; she was also a prolific hitter for the Tigers.  In two years, she hit .383 with 24 doubles, 21 home runs and 98 RBI’s. 

After graduating from Chattanooga State, Melissa signed with the University of South Carolina where she quickly stepped into the No. 1 pitcher’s spot and delivered 20 wins to lead the team.  In her junior season, her first in the SEC, she made 45 appearances en route to putting her name among Carolina greats with her 255 innings pitched (seventh-best single-season mark) and 277 strikeouts (sixth-best single-season).  After her junior season, she stood in the top 100 of the nation in four pitching categories: saves (3, 52^nd), wins (20, 63^rd), ERA (1.77, 66^th) and strikeouts per seven innings (7.3, 76^th).  Hendon threw back-to-back complete games on championship day at the Columbia regional to lead Carolina over No. 20 Oregon to advance to the program’s first ever Super Regional.

Hendon wrapped up her senior season with a career 1.98 ERA with 145 strikeouts in 151.2 innings pitched while pitching the eight perfect game in Gamecock history on March 4, 2007.  She had 18 complete games and five shutouts while tallying 4 saves, ranking 21^st in the NCAA.  She was awarded the SEC Pitcher of the Week multiple times while also being selected to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2007 and 2008.  She was also chosen to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Squad.  Hendon concluded her college career with 982 strikeouts and a 1.36 ERA.

Melissa graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of South Carolina in 2008.

 “We are very excited to have Melissa join our staff,” Beth said.  “Her enthusiasm, passion, experience and work ethic are qualities we feel she will pass on to her students.  She has the ability to communicate with students of all ages and adapts her lessons to fit her students.  While physical tools make a huge difference, Melissa has the ability to perform under pressure and is able to channel her trials, tribulations and keys to her success into her instruction.  A trademark of KFA instruction is the ability to identify a player’s strength and weakness and come up with a solution to work through the problems.  Melissa is gifted with this art and we are very fortunate to have her join our academy.”

Adrienne Lamberson,
Beginning & Intermediate Pitching Instructor

Adrienne begins her third year as a beginning & intermediate pitching instructor for KFA.  She has worked with Beth as a student for nine years.  Adrienne specializes in teaching the beginning and intermediate pitchers.  Adrienne is a graduate of Girls Preparatory School and is currently working on her Bachelor's Degree at Lee University.  She is a consistent instructor who has the ability to get her point across to the students in an exciting and positive manner.