Softball Coaching Staff

Grant Young headshot in front of blue screen

Grant Young

Head Softball Coach

Grant Young was named the new head coach of the East Central College Falcons softball team in 2025.  Young replaced Brad Wallach, who had been the head coach for the past 15 seasons. In his first season at the helm, the Falcons were 30-17 sending 4 players on to play at 4 year schools including standout Australian Genieve Beacom to Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR.

Young has served over the past 3 years as the head softball coach at Washington High School in Washington, MO. He also remains in that role at Washington. In 2023, the Blue Jays finished 37-1-1 and captured the Missouri Class 4 state title, never losing to a single Missouri school. Washington finished 3rd in the nation, according to the final NFCA poll and was the top program in the State of Missouri for MaxPreps.com. The team was led by two-time Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year and NFCA 1st-Team All-American Taylor Brown, who is playing at Texas A&M University. Washington players also were recognized for their excellence by having 4 NFCA All-Region, 6 All-State, and 11 All-District selections. Overall, being a head softball coach for 5 years, including one year at Neosho High School in Neosho, MO, Young’s teams have compiled an impressive 129-36-1 record.

Over the past nine years with the Blue Jay program, as varsity assistant and head coach, Young’s teams have amassed 6 Gateway Athletic Conference titles, 5 district titles, 4 Final Four finishes and 2 state championships (2021 and 2023). In 2023, Young was recognized as the Missouri Class 4 Coach of the Year and the National High School Coach of the Year in the United States by the NFCA.

Young also has served as a varsity basketball coach in the State of Missouri for the past 23 years. Over that time, he has coached boys’ and girls’ teams, achieving 385 career wins, including 7 MSHSAA district titles, 2 Final Four appearances, and a state championship in 2011 at Purdy, MO. He was recognized as the Girls Basketball MBCA/Sportswriters 2011 Class 2 Coach of the Year.

Young is a native of Union, MO and graduated from Union High School (1996). He also earned degrees from Missouri State University with a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology (2000) and William Woods University with a M.S. in Athletic Administration (2007). Young is married to his wife Julia, an Elementary teacher with the School District of Washington and has 2 sons; Ryker and Kaner currently a pitcher for the ECC baseball program.

Ellie Quaethem headshot in front of blue screen

Ellie Quaethem

Assistant Coach
Pitching Coordinator

Ellie Quaethem enters her second season on the coaching staff at East Central College, bringing an elite playing résumé and a strong competitive background to the program.

A standout pitcher at McKendree University, Quaethem established herself as one of the most accomplished players in program history. She finished her career with an outstanding 1.90 ERA and currently holds 18 school records, including career strikeouts and single-season ERA. Her dominance in the circle earned her four All-GLVC selections, including two First-Team honors, along with recognition as an NFCA All-Region performer and a two-time D2CAA All-Region selection. Prior to her collegiate career, Quaethem starred at Washington High School, where she helped lead her team to a Final Four appearance at the state level in 2016, showcasing her ability to perform on the biggest stage from an early age.

Now in her second year at East Central College, Quaethem brings a player-first mindset, high-level pitching knowledge, and a passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the field. Her experience competing at an elite level continues to be a valuable asset to the program’s growth and success. Ellie Quathem graduated in 2025 with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from McKendree University in Lebanon, IL.

Jeffrey Beck headshot in front of blue screen

Jeffrey Beck

Volunteer Assistant Coach
Recruiting Coordinator

Coach Jeffrey Beck joined East Central Softball staff June 2024 as a volunteer assistant, coming over to ECC from his years of experience of being the Baseball, Softball, Men and Women’s basketball recruiting coordinator at Washington High School in Washington, MO. 

Prior to his experience at Washington high school, Beck was also a recruiting coordinator for Liberty High School baseball from 2018-2020 in Liberty, TX. Coach Beck has continued to push softball players to multiple levels including all NCAA Divisions and the NAIA . Coach Beck has over 8 years of experience coaching baseball at the high school level. 

He is supported by his loving wife and four beautiful children. Coach Beck earned a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters Degree in Business from Bethel University in McKenzie, TN. Coach Beck earned his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice while playing baseball at Sul Ross State University at Alpine, TX.