Participating Coaches
Watch for updates on the 2010 Camp Staff - most of these post are from the 2009 season
James DeFeo
LSU
James DeFeo enters his fourth season as the associate head coach at LSU after four years as an assistant coach. It is also his ninth season under head coach Yvette Girouard after one year with her at UL-Lafayette.
Prior to joining Girouard’s staff, DeFeo was a graduate assistant at Southern Miss in 1999 when the Golden Eagles became the first, first-year program to advance to the Women’s College World Series.
In 2004, he, Girouard and former assistant coach Lori Osterberg were named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association South Region Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Tigers to their second WCWS appearance. The trio was also named the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2001 after they led LSU to its first WCWS berth.
DeFeo’s main duties include working with the hitters and the outfielders as well as recruiting, scouting and practice management. Last season, the Tiger hitters ranked in the top 50 nationally in doubles (8th), batting average (22nd), slugging percentage (27th), scoring (31st) and home runs (45th).
The Tigers also recorded the second best slugging percentage and third best on base percentage in school history. LSU tied for the second most doubles in school history and fourth most in SEC history with 102. The 58 home runs hit, including home runs by 10 difference players, tied for the second most in a single season in school history.
The Tigers had at least two players ranked in the top 10 individually in the SEC in five different hitting categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, hits and doubles. LSU also had at least one person ranked in every hitting category, while three Tigers ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in doubles.
Individually, three-time All-American Leslie Klein ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in virtually every hitting category and ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA in batting average and doubles per game. She finished her career as one of the most prolific hitters in both LSU and SEC history with three Tiger single-season records – doubles, home runs and total bases; and five LSU career records – slugging percentage, doubles, home runs, RBIs and total bases.
Over the previous three seasons, the Tiger hitters ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA in batting average, while posting two top 20 rankings in slugging percentage. LSU ranked in the top 10 nationally in doubles per game in 2006 and 2004, with top 30 rankings in scoring in both 2005 and 2006.
In 2004, LSU broke the school record and led the SEC in home runs, while LSU ranked second in the league in batting average, runs scored, hits, triples and RBIs. Individually, then-freshman Klein ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in every hitting category and ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA in slugging percentage, runs per game and RBIs per game. The Tigers had at least two players ranked in the top 10 individually in the SEC in every hitting category, including five of the top 10 individuals ranked in total bases.
In 2002, former Tiger All-American Trena Peel led the nation in triples, while breaking the LSU and SEC single-season records. With 14 triples, she was just two shy of the NCAA record. In his first season at LSU the Tigers were second in the SEC and 12th nationally with a .293 team batting average. LSU also led the league in scoring and finished ranked 16th nationally with more than five runs per game.
At UL-Lafayette, DeFeo’s team hit .310 and finished the season with a No. 22 national ranking and in the top 10 in hitting and scoring. The 1999 Southern Miss team finished the season ranked second nationally in batting and 10th in scoring. DeFeo was instrumental in helping to revive the Golden Eagle team after a six-year hiatus.
For 10 years, he has served as sole proprietor and instructor of the All-American Softball Clinics in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania and Mississippi. DeFeo has coaching experience at nearly every level of fastpitch softball, including Under-12, Under-16, 18 and Under and Women’s Major. DeFeo also is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
A native of New Jersey, DeFeo graduated from Rutgers University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He received his master’s in sports administration from Southern Miss in 1999. His sister, Stephanie DeFeo, was a three-time All-American under Girouard at UL-Lafayette and is a current assistant coach at Ball State.
In 2000, DeFeo was married to the former Samantha Rock of Orlando, Fla. They have two daughters, Victoria, 5, and Zoe, 3, and son, Zachary, 1.
Michael Lotief
Louisiana Lafayette
The first to arrive at the park and the last to leave, co-head coach Michael Lotief has been the driving force behind the continued success of Ragin’ Cajuns softball.
Beginning his eighth season with the Ragin’ Cajuns alongside his wife, Stefni, Michael brings over 20 years of experience from nearly every level of softball and baseball.
His passion, dedication, work ethic and knowledge have contributed to turning the Ragin’ Cajuns hitters into one of the most productive offensive teams in the country.
The results are amazing.
In five of the last six seasons, Lotief’s hitting system has produced at least 70 home runs and ranked in the Top 30 of nearly every hitting category in the NCAA stats. The run included a string of three straight seasons (2002 through 2004) in which the offense set the record for school home runs in succession (76 in 2002, 79 in 2003 and 88 in 2004).
“I have had the privilege of working with some of the best hitters in the world,” according to Lotief.
Among them Alana Addison (2001 All-American, 57 career home runs, member of 2003 U.S. Elite team), Becky McMurtry (three time All-American, U.S. Olympic trials 2002 & 2003), Danyele Gomez (three-time All-American, 2003 Olympic trials, 20 home runs freshman year) and Holly Tankersley (2004 NFCA All-South Region, 2004 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, 21 freshman home runs).
Lotief was instrumental in developing
Over 20 high school players who played for him have received Division I scholarships.
“Hitting is an art,” Lotief said. “Hitting is a science too. It is the most difficult skill to perform in all of sports.
“I love the challenge of teaching hitting,” he added. “I love to talk hitting with our players and analyze their mechanics and break down video with them and figure out a way to help our players be the best in the country and realize their dreams and potential. When they hit a bomb it makes all those hours of throwing batting practice worth it.”
Besides hitting, Lotief’s responsibilities also include recruiting, infield defense, fundraising, camps and clinics.
“I think it is very important that this community understands just how special these girls are,” Lotief said. “They are great kids, from great families, excelling in the classroom and on the softball field and making a difference in this community.”
With a College World Series appearance in 2003 and 2008, Lotief is hoping to add to the list of his memories.
“Those experiences have shaped my life, given me a chance to make a difference, a chance to teach. Hopefully, coaching will afford me the opportunity to continue to interact and influence the youth of this community in a postive way.”
Lotief graduated from Teurlings Catholic High Scool in
He got his bachelor’s degree in 1985 from the
He began his own law practice in
He started coaching fastpitch in 1994.
He is married to Stefni Lotief, seventh-year head coach of the Ragin’ Cajuns softball program, and they have two children – Chelsea and Andrew.
“Michael brings a relentless work ethic; he is the first one at the park and the last one to leave,” said co-head coach Stefni Lotief. “He is a true competitor and I am blessed to coach with my husband and best friend.”
Pete Langlois
Southeatern Louisiana University
After 14 seasons at the helm of the Southeastern softball program, head coach Pete Langlois is the winningest coach in school history. The 2008 squad returned to the Southland Conference Tournament after a five-year absence.
Langlois is no stranger to postseason play, having led seven teams to the conference tournament as a member of the Southland Conference and the Trans America Athletic Conference. During his tenure, the Lady Lion program has continued to grow and improve.
The upgrading of Southeastern's home facility, North Oak Park, has been one of the top accomplishments of Langlois’ tenure. The facility has had a press box, upgraded dugouts, a brick fence along the foul lines and a new scoreboard installed over the past three seasons. Southeastern’s home field is considered to be one of the top facilities in the SLC and the immediate area.
Over the past eight seasons, Langlois’ teams have produced a bevy of individual accolades including 33 all-SLC selections (six first team) and 15 all-Louisiana picks. In 2004, Summer Delaneuville was named Louisiana Newcomer of the Year, while Karin Smith - the school's career leader in home runs - was named first-team all-SLC and all-Louisiana. As a senior, Smith was once again named all-SLC. The three first-team SLC picks in 2002 were the first-ever in the Southland for Southeastern.
And the Southland Conference is certainly a place where the softball mentor is no stranger. As a former pitching and hitting coach for Nicholls State, Langlois contributed in the Lady Colonels’ phenomenal season of 1994 when they posted a 51-15 season and were Southland Conference Co-Champions.
Following his stint at Nicholls, Langlois joined the Southeastern staff as an assistant coach in 1995 under then-head coach Corrie Hill. After Hill resigned to take a similar position at Baylor University in the middle of the season, Langlois was the obvious choice to lead the Lady Lions.
Langlois picked up the duties as interim head coach, finishing the season with an overall 19-27 record, 11-18 with him at the helm. He was appointed as head coach following the season in June 1995 and has taken over the softball program full force.
Langlois has compiled an overall coaching record of 333-380 but has recorded 20+ wins in nine of his last 10 campaigns. In his time as Southeastern's skipper, he has guided two All-South Region players, 18 All-Louisiana team members, 40 all-Conference players, 11 conference all-Academic team members and two CoSIDA Academic All-America honorees.
Before entering the collegiate ranks, Langlois was a successful club coach in his native Baton Rouge.
Langlois received a bachelor of arts degree in business education from Southeastern in 1993. He is the proud parents of daughters, Malorie (8) and Macie (4). Langlois married the former Yvette Miller in May 2008.
Sarah Dawson
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech head coach Sarah Dawson believes that her players should be the best they can be on and off the playing field.
Dawson, now 10 years removed from her playing days where she was an All-American pitcher at Northeast Louisiana (now Louisiana-Monroe), works tirelessly as a head coach to help mold her players into great softball players, top-notch students and first class citizens.
"I want these girls to leave this program knowing what it is to have standards for their life," Dawson said. "I want them to strive to go beyond what others may expect of them. I want them to consider the needs of others and understand how important and fulfilling it is to serve others. These were important lessons of life I learned from my coaches, and I want to pass that legacy on to the lives that I impact."
Part of Dawson's philosophy involves getting her players actively involved in service projects so they learn how to be an integral part of their community. During this past fall quarter, Dawson's players earned over 150 hours of community service, ranging from visiting nursing homes, working with area churches and helping with the Louisiana Tech student-athlete Halloween carnival.
In addition to community service projects, Dawson incorporates the NCAA's CHAMPS/Lifeskills Leadership Program on a regular basis with her team. Throughout the school year, Dawson arranges speakers to talk to her players about such topics as domestic violence, drugs and alchohol, sexual responsibility, interviewing skills, and other areas that will impact their lives.
Dawson and her coaching staff along with the players instituted a recycling program in the Louisiana Tech Athletic Department.
The Alpine, Calif., native also emphasizes education, and it has paid off during her tenure at Louisiana Tech. During her previous five years as Tech, 33 of her players have earned Academic All-Western Athletic Conference honors, ranking among the most in the league during that time.
Dawson, who has compiled a 101-193 record at Tech in her five years, has also had plenty of positive affect on her players on the playing field during her time at Louisiana Tech. Dawson's competitive spirit rubs off on her players.
"I took competition personally," Dawson said of her playing days at UL-Monroe. "As a pitcher it was me vs. the batter. At the end of the at bat, we knew who was better. I knew that if I was the best pitcher that day I would give my team the best opportunity to win."
She brings that competitiveness and dedication that helped her garner success as a collegiate and professional player to the Louisiana Tech program. Over the past five years her teams have set numerous records, including the two top single season hit performances (Amber Miles, 68 in 2004, and Emma Barnes, 67 in 2007) and single season home runs (Ashley Cameron, 10 in both 2005 and 2006).
Individual career records have also been set including career batting average (Emma Barnes, .345) and home runs (Ashley Cameron, 32).
Some of Dawson's teams have also set team single season marks, including RBI in a season (2006, 204), home runs in a season (2007, 32), batting average (2006, .284). In fact, Dawson's last three teams rank first, second and third in single season home runs.
Fourteen of her players have earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors, including at least one every year and a program-record four in both 2004 and 2006. Dawson has also had 10 of her players named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association all-state team, while outfielder Emma Barnes was named the state Freshman of the Year in 2006.
And on numerous occasions, she has led her team to near-upsets of Top 20 teams, including a 2-1 win over Top 20 Fresno State in 2006.
Howard Dobson Howard Dobson, who recently completed his fifth season as assistant coach at Oklahoma, enters his first season as the Golden Eagles head coach. Dobson comes to Southern Miss after helping the Sooners complete one of the most successful seasons in school history, finishing with an overall record of 55-8 and winning the Big 12 tournament championship for the third time in school history. In his five years at OU, Dobson has been instrumental in continuing Oklahoma's national reputation as an offensive force. Since his arrival in 2003, the Sooners have made two College World Series appearances (2003, 2004), four Super Regional Tournaments (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) and five-straight regionals (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) and have been one of the top two teams in the Big XII Conference in hitting percentage and have topped the conference every season in scoring. In addition, Dobson has coached seven players who garnered All-America honors and worked with 15 NFCA All-Midwest Region performers and 20 All-Big 12 honorees. Prior to Oklahoma, the Orange, Texas, native helped establish Houston's softball program in 2000. In the program's first year, Dobson helped guide the team to a fifth-place finish in Conference USA. The 2002 team led the league in hits (480), runs scored (279), slugging percentage (.448), RBI (244) and home runs (47), narrowly missing the conference record of 49. During his two years at Houston, Dobson coached 10 all-conference honorees, including the 2002 Conference USA Freshman of the Year. Dobson served as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana for two seasons before joining the Houston staff. With his help, two Lady Lions garnered all-region accolades. Dobson began his softball coaching career at McNeese State as a volunteer assistant coach. At McNeese State, he worked with the Southland Conference's 1999 Hitter of the Year. Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach at Barbe High School in Louisiana where he led the team to the state 5A title and directed one of its players to Miss Softball Louisiana honors. While at Barbe, seven of his players went on to compete at the Division I level, including nationally renowned programs LSU and DePaul. Dobson also has gained valuable experience working at the collegiate skills camps during the summer and coaching on the international level. In the summer of 1999, his international team won the German Open with one of its players named tournament MVP. A former all-conference performer at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, Dobson went on to finish his collegiate baseball career at McNeese State where he graduated with a degree in health and human performance and English in 1997. Dobson and his wife Katharine have a two-year old son, Tripp. Nancy Marshall
University of Southern Mississippi
Southern University
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Natalie Poole
McNeese State
Natalie Poole is returning as head softball coach at McNeese State where she both played and served as an assistant coach.
McNeese athletic director Tommy McClelland announced the selection of Poole who has spent the last seven seasons as head coach at Georgia Southern. She will assume the position on July 1.
A meet and greet function for Poole has been set for June 18 when the Hodges Street Fieldhouse will hold a grand opening. All fans are invited to attend.
"The committee did an excellent job of researching and searching to find an outstanding coach who they felt could take over our softball program," McClelland said. "We conducted a very high quality search and Natalie was the one who rose to the top.
"The things that attracted us to Natalie were her experience at the Division I level and the type of program she runs on the field and in the classroom. Being that she is a former Cowgirl, we are very confident that she has the program's best interests in mind and can lead our softball program to the next level of success.
"The fact that we were able to hire a coach with seven years of head coaching experience at the Division I level is a result of the investments made by the university, the athletic department, the McNeese Athletic Foundation and its chapters as well as the entire community. I want to thank everyone who has made an investment in the program. We're heading in the right direction."
There were a total of 52 applicants for the position and five were selected to be interviewed. The other four included current McNeese assistant coach Sara Vogt, North Carolina-Pembroke head coach Steve Johnson, Marshall University first assistant coach Shane Winkler and Wichita State University first assistant Chris Kuhlmeyer.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to come back to start rebuilding a program that I once was a part of," Poole said. "It is a program that I am familiar with and I look forward to being a part of the improvements around McNeese State and the softball program. I also look forward to coming back to my alma mater. It's a place I call my second home." A native of Baton Rouge, Poole coached Georgia Southern to 212 victories in her seven seasons there. Her 2008 squad posted a 37-30 won-lost record and a 13-8 record in the Southern Conference while having eight players named to the all-conference team.
During her stint at Georgia Southern, Poole was named the league's coach of the year (2002), twice coached the league's player of the year and led the Eagles to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance (2006).
Her team's conference record during her career with the Eagles was 84-61 with five top three finishes including a second place this past season. The Eagles also set school single season records for home runs, fielding percentage, shutouts and conference victories.
As an athlete at McNeese, Poole was one of the best. Three times she was named to the all-Southland Conference team, was named an academic all-American in 1997, twice earned all-South regional recognition, was a three time academic all-district pick and an all-Louisiana choice.
Poole was the Cowgirl starting catcher for four seasons and in her senior season was named the team's most valuable player.
She posted a .296 career batting average and as a freshman helped the Cowgirls win the SLC title and a berth in the NCAA tournament.
She earned her bachelor degree from McNeese in 1998 and her master degree in 2000.
Poole was an assistant coach for the Cowgirls from 1999 to 2001 and was named the head coach at Georgia Southern in 2001.
The new McNeese head coach presently serves as a member of the 2008 NCAA softball committee and is serving in that capacity at the women's College World Series this week.
She becomes McNeese's ninth softball coach, taking over for Chris Malveaux who served as head coach four years.
Mark Montgomery
Centenary College
Mark Montgomery is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Centenary Ladies softball team. In just five years,
In 2007, the Ladies finished with a mark of 22-27 as more than 10 games were erased from the schedule as a result of poor weather. Montgomery led Centenary into the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament for the fourth consecutive season and saw two players receive All-Conference accolades and All-Louisiana honors.
2006 saw Montgomery's team finish with a record of 31-25, the third consecutive winning season and the third straight campaign with 30 or more wins. The Ladies placed second in the Mid-Con regular season standings and several players enjoyed individual recognition. Three players were named All-Mid-Con, two were selected Mid-Con All-Tournament Team members, three were All-Louisiana picks, and one was an NFCA All-South Region honoree. In addition, a Centenary player was again named the Mid-Con Newcomer of the Year as well as the All-Louisiana Newcomer of the Year, and a player appeared in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd section for her accomplishments.
Jimmy Kolaitis
University of South Alabama
Jimmy Kolaitis will enter his first season with the Jaguar softball program beginning the 2008-09 season.
Kolaitis comes to
Prior to going to
Kolaitis began his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Opelika American Legion team, helping that squad to three consecutive district titles. From there he worked as an assistant coach at
Kolaitis is a native of
Kolaitis earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from
Rodriguez came to Millsaps after six seasons as the head coach at “I’m excited of the possibilities here at Tim Whitman Tim Whitman enters eighth season as the head coach of the Lady Wildcat softball program and his sixth year as LC's Athletic Director. Whitman's softball teams at LC have experienced nothing but success since his first year in 2002. In just his second season, Whitman's team won 34 games, an ASC East Division title, and a National Christian College National Championship. In 2005, the Lady Wildcats captured their second ASC East crown in three years, won the overall ASC Championship, and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Div. III West Regional. In 2006, he led the Lady Wildcats to their third ASC East Crown in four years and yet another NCAA Division III Regional. In 2007, the Lady Wildcats hosted a regional and received the number one seed in the number one region for the regional playoffs. In 2008, LC won their fourth ASC East crown, and their second overall ASC Championship. They won the Tyler Regional and advanced to the NCAA III World Series, where they finished third. Also, in the last four years, the Lady Wildcats have finished the season ranked in the top 20 nationally. In 2005, LC received a final ranking of 13th. In 2006, the Lady 'Cats finished with a ranking of 14th, and in 2007, LC finished 18th in the final poll. Whitman begins this season with an overall 240-58 record at LC, which is the best coaching record in the American Southwest Conference over the last seven years. Whitman has also been named the ASC East Coach of the Year three times. His winning percentage (.805) ranks him in the top three nationally among active NCAA III coaches. Before coming to Whitman has also overseen the building of Coca Cola/Lady Wildcat Softball Field, which is one of the nicest Division III softball facilities in the country. He has also raised money to install chair back seats, and has plans to put a fence up along the left side of the stadium. As the athletic director, Whitman has helped spearhead facility upgrades, the addition of men's cross country and men's tennis. Also, Whitman was instrumental in the hiring of 2008 ASC East Women's Basketball Coach of the Year, Janice Joseph-Richard, and LC head football coach Dennis Dunn. Whitman and his wife, Angie, have two children, Matthew and Monica, and reside in Pineville. Andy Lee Lee, who was formerly the head softball coach at Hinds Community College in Mississippi, will inherit a young program starting its fourth season in NJCAA competition. The Lady Bengals are 63-72 since the program began and suffered their worst season in 2008 when the girls finished 19-30.
Roland Rodriguez
Millsaps College
Third-year head coach Roland Rodriguez led the Majors to a 10-game turnaround in 2008, including the first 20-win season since 2005, to gain his fifth Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year accolade. He is the winningest coach in SCAC history with 188 career victories, sporting a 75-19 record in league play. In just his second year on the Majors staff, Rodriguez led Millsaps to the SCAC championship game for the first time since 2004 where they dropped a 1-0 decision to No. 1 DePauw. Millsaps finished with an overall record of 20-14. He is also the first coach in SCAC history in any sport to be named Coach-of-the-Year at two different conference schools.
Louisiana College
LSU - Eunice
LSU Eunice Athletic Director Jeff Willis recently announced that Andrew Lee will be the new head softball coach for the Lady Bengal program.
“The LSUE community and I are very happy with the addition of Coach Lee to our program,” said Willis. “He brings a lot to the table in the continued effort of us reaching a goal of a national title in softball. Because of the leadership and the proven success that he has shown at Hinds, we are ecstatic that Coach Lee will be joining our family.”
Lee finished 2008 with a 34-20 record, won the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Central Division. He led Hinds to a second place finish in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.
He has served as the head coach at Hinds since 2004 and has compiled an 89-65 record with that program. Previous to taking the reins of the softball program, Lee served as an assistant coach with the university’s baseball program.
Lee is a native of Raymond, Mississippi, and an alumnus of Hinds Community College and Delta State University. He signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox organization in 1998 and played for the Lowell Spinners in Massachusetts for three seasons.
Brooke O'Hair
Mississippi College
O’Hair brings an attitude of success to the program after a record-setting playing career at
O'Hair took the Lady Choctaws to new heights in her first season as the head coach. She guided MC to a 38-10 record and an ASC East Division Championship. The Lady Choctaws advanced all the way to the NCAA Regional’s before bowing out to eventual national champion, Linfield.
O’Hair quickly built a successful Pirates’ program leading the team last season to a 15-10 record. Pass Christian had a 2-20 record just a season before O’Hair arrived. Two Pirate players earned all-conference honors last season.
As a standout at
After completing her playing career, O’Hair spent one year as student assistant (2004) in which
Coach O’Hair earned her Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. She is married to Tony O’Hair.
Melissa Inouye
University of Southern Mississippi
Melissa Inouye comes to Southern Miss after a three-year stint as the assistant coach at the University of Kentucky. While in Lexington, she served as the team's recruiting coordinator, outfield coach, compliance liaison, co-director of camps and director of the Blue Diamond Backer Softball Booster Club, while also assisting with the pitching and catching staff. In addition to her softball duties, she is currently pursuing a master's degree in sports leadership.
Before heading to Kentucky, Inouye served as the assistant coach at Northwestern State University (Natchitoches, La.) and the volunteer assistant coach at UNLV (Las Vegas, Nev.).
She was a two-year starter at UNLV, playing first base and catcher, and was named team captain. She was a three-time Academic All-Mountain West Conference team selection, a seven-time UNLV Dean's List honoree and received the Coaches Award her senior year. Inouye received a bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure studies, as well as in fitness management.
Karin Smith Gadberry After about a year stint away from Ruston, former Lady Techster outfielder Amber Miles is proving you can go home, but this time it will be in a different capacity. Miles returns to her alma mater this year as an assistant coach on Sarah Dawson's softball staff. The 24-year-old will work closely with the Lady Techster outfielders and the team's left-handed slappers. "I am thrilled Amber has returned to the Louisiana Tech softball program," Dawson said. "She has so many gifts and talents to offer this program as a coach. Amber gained valuable coaching experience as a volunteer at Northwood University. "I know she is ready to take on the new challenge of the Tech outfield. I look for her to develop the defensive aspect of our outfield as well work with our slappers." Miles played at Louisiana Tech from 2002 through 2005, and ended her collegiate playing days as one of the most decorated outfielders to ever don a Lady Techster uniform. The DeSoto, Texas, native twice earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors and was a four-time Academic all-WAC honoree. Statistically, Miles set the Louisiana Tech single season hits record in 2004, registering 68 hits which broke the 18-year-old mark of 63 by Faith Holman. Miles ended her career ranking No. 2 in career hits (208), No. 3 in stolen bases (89), No. 8 in total bases (229), No. 8 in runs scored (92), and No. 10 in triples (10). "Amber has instant credibility with the players from her own playing experience. Amber will also be a real asset as a recruiter," Dawson said. "Her personality along with her knowledge of Texas will be a great advantage to Louisiana Tech softball." Miles proved to be a leader on and off the playing field, serving as the editor of the university newspaper The Tech Talk and as the president of the WAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, while also representing Louisiana Tech as the 2004 NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. Following her Tech career, Miles spent one season playing professionally for the Nebraska Comets. Miles, who returns to Tech after spending the past 14 months working in the newspaper business including an 11-month stint as a prestigious Hearst Fellow, said she is thrilled about returning to Tech and being a part of the coaching staff. "I wanted to get back to my first love which is softball," said Miles, who served as a volunteer coach for Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, during last year. "I enjoyed writing, but I couldn't shake the desire to be a softball coach. "When I first stepped onto the Tech campus as a freshman, I had no idea I would have such a strong desire to stay here after my playing days were over. There is just something about Louisiana Tech and Ruston that pulls you in. This place really becomes home." Miles earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from Louisiana Tech in 2005 and is currently working on completing her master's degree in counseling. Chris Watford Chris Watford enters his second season as an assistant for the Colonels, and comes to Nicholls after spending last season as an assistant at Stephen F. Austin. Prior to his one year stint with the Lady Lumberjacks, Watford spent 2005 as the head coach at Madison Ridgeland Academy. Before accepting the head coaching job at Madison Ridgeland Academy, he spent the previous two seasons at Washington High School. Watford compiled a three-year record of 72-30 in the high school coaching ranks before ascending to the college level. Watford also served as a graduate assistant for the Delta State softball program for three years before coaching Washington High School. He has his bachelor's and master's degree in physical education from Delta State, and as a graduate assistant for Delta State, Watford helped guide Delta State to the NCAA regional tournament. Watford has also spent 10 years playing men's fast-pitch softball, and pitched in five of those seasons. The teams that he played on twice competed in the national tournament with the highest finish being fourth in 1999. Gessica Hufnagle Gessica Hufnagle begins her first season with the Southern Miss softball program. Her duties include assisting in day-to-day practices, camps and recruiting. Hufnagle comes to Southern Miss after spending one season as an assistant coach at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind., where she helped the team win the MCC Conference Championship, the NAIA Region VIII Championship and advance to the NAIA Nationals. She was a part of the 2008 NFCA Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year that posted a school record of 51-6. During her stint at Bethel, Hufnagle worked primarily with the catchers as well as hitters. Other duties included assisting the head coach in day-to-day practices, recruiting, camps and the head strength and conditioning coach. Hufnagle was a four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame, where she saw significant time as a designated hitter, pinch runner and catcher her first two seasons. She earned a starting spot her junior year as an outfielder, before finishing her career behind the plate as the starting catcher during her senior campaign. While at Notre Dame, she batted .290, finishing third in RBIs (25) and second in on-base percentage (.383). She played on two regular season Big East Championships teams, one Big East Tournament champion and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournaments all four seasons. She earned her bachelor's degree with a double major in graphic design and psychology in 2007. Hufnagle gained other coaching experiences as the head coach of the Triton Trojans, a 14U travel team from Bourbon, Ind., and an assistant coach for the Jersey Intensity 18U Travel Team. The Middlebury, Ind., native was a three-sport letterwinner at Northridge High School.
Southeastern Louisiana University
Karin Smith Gadberry, a native of Puyallup, Wash. and a former star of the Southeastern softball team, is in her fourth season as an assistant on head coach Pete Langlois’ staff.
Smith primarily works with the team’s hitters, passing along the expertise that made her one of the top power hitters in the Southland Conference during her Southeastern career, which spanned from 2002-05. Smith is also largely involved in the Lady Lions’ recruiting efforts and helps Langlois run numerous camps during the offseason.
Smith is also in charge of the team’s strength and conditioning program. Her work does not end with softball, as she is an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the entire athletic department. Smith, under the guidance of head strength coach Matt Moore, helps oversee the strength and conditioning efforts of all 16 Southeastern athletic programs. Smith’s work with the Lady Lions both on the field and the weight room was a major factor in Southeastern hitting a then-school record 39 home runs in 2007, topping that with 43 home runs in 2008.
Smith entered the coaching ranks after a stellar career in the green and gold. A two-time All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana catcher, Smith finished her career as the school’s career leader with 37 home runs, 109 runs batted in and 66 extra base hits.
She owns the top two seasons by a Southeastern home run hitter, blasting a school-record 15 home runs in 2004 and 14 round-trippers in 2005. Smith also holds school records for single-season slugging percentage (.757, 2004), single-season walks (28, 2005) and longest hitting streak (14 games, 2004). She is also one of six players in school history to hit two home runs in a game.
Smith’s collegiate career followed at stellar high school career at Sumner High School. At Sumner High, she was a three-sport athlete and was a two-time First Team SPSL catcher.
Smith is a 2006 graduate of Southeastern. She and her husband, Alex, reside in Hammond.
Amber Miles
University of Southern Mississippi
Nicholls State University
University of Southern Mississippi
