Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas said in a news release Wednesday that Perry has been hired after two seasons at Ball State.
Perry will replace the recently retired Terri Sullivan and become the school’s second-ever head softball coach.
Perry said in a news release that she hopes to help make Illinois a prominent softball program.
Under Sullivan, Illinois was 26-27 but she led teams to four NCAA Tournament trips in earlier years.
Perry was 34-25 last season at Ball State. The team made the NCAA regionals.
She is 409-388-1in 15 years as a head coach. She also coached at Western Kentucky and Birmingham Southern.