Bullets players having fun at an Alliance Qualifier in the fall of 2024. Left to right: Nyla Henson (Kennesaw State), Kaylyn Arnold (Memphis), Ayla Holmes (Coastal Carolina) and Jones Southall (Jacksonville University).

Jessica Bilz has put a decade of her talents and energies into coaching at the travel ball level—six of those with the East Cobb Bullets organization—and the results have been impressive, to say the least.

In those 10 seasons on the fields, Jessica has coached every age division except 10U, with the 16U age group standing out, she explains, “as my favorite due to the growth, maturity, and competitive drive developed at that stage.”

Jessica has announced she’s stepped away from coaching after compiling a 365-200-28 record to date.

Notable highlights include Jess leading her teams to the Alliance National Championship, taking home top-finish money at the Alex Wilcox Invitational as well as the memories of “hard-fought one-run games and the unforgettable walk-off victories” that have highlighted her stellar career.

Ally Hannaford, Jessica’s assistant next to her for the past seven seasons, is also stepping back and both are doing it for the same reason: to be stay-at-home moms.

Jessica gave birth to baby daughter Ruby Jo Bilz in October and Ally will welcome her third child (gender unknown) in June. This will be her third little one, following the birth of her two young daughters Ryan (age 4) and Maggie (2).  

Here’s what each of the attentive moms have to say about discontinuing their coaching duties, at least for now, and how they look to stay involved moving forward in the sport they love so much…

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Jessica’s Perspective

While the wins were meaningful, the true highlights came from everything beyond the field: lake house retreats, Christmas parties, team dinners in Colorado, impromptu Atlanta Braves games, and spontaneous ice cream runs that created bonds which went far deeper than softball.

I will always cherish the laughs along with the tears after long tournament weekends, the grind of brutal summer heat on turf in Florida and Georgia, and the quiet resilience built during cold early mornings in Dalton.

Every experience played a role in shaping something special.

My greatest hope is that every athlete who played for Ally and me took something meaningful from their time with us whether that was softball knowledge, life lessons, confidence, or simply knowing they had coaches they could trust.

Over the past four years, our teams helped guide 50 athletes to college commitments.

Watching our former players earn Rookie of the Year honors, Pitcher and Player of the Week awards, and 1^st and 2^nd Team recognitions and compete at the next level has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.

… and I hope to one day soon get the wedding invitations! 

I am stepping away after welcoming my first baby girl and choosing to focus on being a stay-at-home mom.

While my role is changing, softball remains close to my heart. Pitching has always been my true passion and has opened countless doors within the softball community.

I will continue offering pitching lessons and advanced pitching analysis throughout the Metro Atlanta area, utilizing Rapsodo technology to help pitchers grow and develop.

I will be sticking around to help players with recruiting as much as I can so I’ll be sending Bullets write ups to Line Drive  here and there!

Who knows… maybe you will find us back on the field in 10 years with our little ones!

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Ally’s Perspective

Coaching alongside Jessica for the past seven years has been a remarkable journey defined by growth, trust, and the privilege of helping athletes reach some of their biggest goals, both on and off the field.

Jess and I are perfect complements when it comes to the game, giving the girls a good balance between intensity and fun, understanding when they need to be pushed or when we need to back off.

The moment we met while coaching separate Flames teams I knew we clicked, and I knew we could create something special… and we did just that.

We both understood that chemistry was more important than talent, and talent would continue to come as long as our chemistry was good. 

The team evolved from Flames to AP before ultimately finding its home with EC Bullets, where together we helped guide 50 athletes through the recruiting process and built a culture rooted in confidence, passion, and belief in one another. 

One of the most rewarding moments came at the end of our first group’s final game, when the players refused to leave the field until after the lights went off.

That moment confirmed what we had built: a true family grounded in growth, love, character development, and shared purpose.

It was something truly special.

One of the most memorable softball moments was coaching on the Hall of Fame Field in Oklahoma City during the Alliance Fastpitch inaugural year, an experience that reflected years of dedication, commitment, and trust between Jess and me.

It felt like everything was paying off. 

I am deeply grateful for the families who remained loyal and invested in the journey. Sharing bridal showers, baby showers, funerals, graduation parties, and major life milestones created relationships that extend far beyond softball!

I love getting calls, texts, and FaceTimes from former players asking for advice on school or softball, or even social activities. It’s so rewarding knowing that I had as much of an impact on them as they did on me. 

I’m especially thankful for the “mom squad,” whose support has been essential not only to the program but also in helping shape my own kids.

From Indiana to Colorado to Dalton (Ga.), my young daughters have truly been raised by a supportive softball village over the past four years.

They have been absolutely spoiled being surrounded by the best people, and I can’t imagine a better way to show my kids what it’s like to play a sport.

It’s about more than the game—it’s about learning and trusting a group of people who care about and love you for you. There isn’t a better group of families and kids than we have brought together over the years. 

I will never regret a single weekend spent coaching these athletes or the sacrifices my family made to allow me to do so for as long as I did. I am deeply thankful for their support and understanding.

I will be stepping down in June as I prepare to welcome baby No. 3, but I won’t be far from the field.

I plan to continue supporting the organization and helping teams whenever needed, whether it’s stepping in for outfield drills, offering guidance, or simply handing out high fives.

*****

Passing the Torch: The Next Generation of EC Bullets 18U Gold Leadership

As we step away, we are confident the EC Bullets 18U Gold team is in outstanding hands with Beth Mullins and Lacey Ingram taking over leadership of the program, along with the help of the organization heads, Andrew Biele and JD Heath. 

*** Beth brings extensive Division I head coaching experience, including leading Troy back to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 for the first time in 25 years. She ranks second all-time in Troy program history with over 200 career wins and has guided multiple 30-plus win seasons while competing successfully against Power Five programs.

Coach Mullins is widely respected for her ability to develop complete teams, balancing offensive production, pitching excellence, and defensive consistency.

Her teams have earned multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, conference honors, and national statistical rankings, while consistently emphasizing accountability and competitive standards.

*** Lacey is a highly respected pitching instructor in Georgia and the founder of Level Up Fastpitch Academy. She is known for developing pitchers across all levels, with athletes advancing to collegiate programs and earning national recognition through her instruction.

Coach Ingram’s approach emphasizes not only elite pitching mechanics, but also mental toughness, confidence, and long-term athlete development; values that align strongly with the culture we worked hard to build.

Together, Beth Mullins and Lacey Ingram bring a powerful combination of collegiate leadership experience and elite player development, creating a strong foundation for continued success within the EC Bullets 18U Gold program.

We are proud to hand this team to Beth and Lacey and fully support them as they lead the next chapter.

Our athletes are in excellent hands, and we are excited to watch this group grow, compete, and thrive from the other side of the fence or on AthletesGoLive this summer!