|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Habetz Announces Coaching Staff for Louisiana SoftballRagin’ Cajuns leadership group for new era now in place LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Softball head coach Alyson Habetz has her coaching staff in place. Shellie Landry (assistant coach) and Karly Heath (graduate assistant) continue in their roles from the 2024 season. They are joined by 10-year coaching veteran Lacy Prejean and a rising star in the pitching coach ranks in Shelbi Sunseri. The group will assist Habetz during her initial campaign with the Ragin’ Cajuns, which begins in February 2025. “I am thrilled to have such a talented and dedicated group of coaches join our Louisiana Softball staff,” Habetz said. “First and foremost, Shellie Landry, Shelbi Sunseri, Lacy Prejean and Karly Heath are great individuals who prioritize the person over the athlete. They bring a wealth of softball knowledge from not only their coaching experience, but also from having competed at the highest level. “In addition, they each have a genuine pride for the championship tradition of the Ragin’ Cajuns,” Habetz added. “Their passion and energy will inspire our student-athletes to achieve the greatness they each possess. I am truly honored to have such a fine group of coaches join our Louisiana Softball family.” This past spring, Landry and Heath guided a Ragin’ Cajuns offensive unit that generated a Top 20 batting average (.317) nationally against a Top 5-rated strength of schedule. They both competed for Louisiana, earning All-American status, and have NCAA Regionals experience as a player and coaching staff member. Prejean returns to the Ragin’ Cajuns dugout after serving as the head coach of Northwestern State in 2024. She worked on Louisiana’s staff that averaged 49 wins in the non-COVID shortened seasons from 2019-23, claiming the Sun Belt Conference regular season and tournament titles and advancing to the NCAA Tournament each year. The Ragin’ Cajuns produced 16 all-region players, 26 other all-conference honorees and had four different Sun Belt Player of the Year award winners in her previous stretch on the program’s staff. The Scott, Louisiana native began her coaching career with UL in 2005 after an outstanding four-year playing career at Alabama under the guidance of Habetz and Hall of Fame coach Patrick Murphy from 2000-03, helping lead the Crimson Tide to their first WCWS berth in 2000. Sunseri, an All-American, All-Region and All-SEC pitcher/utility player for LSU from 2018-22, was highly successful as McNeese’s pitching coach the past two seasons. Both seasons the Cowgirls ranked Top 30 nationally in earned run average, finishing as high as No. 11 in 2023. In 2023, the Cowgirls pitching staff led the Southland Conference with a 0.98 ERA, 13 shutouts and .184 opposing batting average in league play, then in 2024 she mentored the SLC Pitcher of the Year, Shaelyn Sanders, who led the league in wins (12), ERA (0.82), complete games (8), shutouts (7) and saves (3) in conference games. As a collegiate athlete, Sunseri posted 39 career victories while turning in 48 home runs and 159 RBI. She played professionally in the summer of 2023 as a member of the Texas Smoke, which won the inaugural WPF regular season title and championship series. Habetz, a celebrated Ragin’ Cajuns student-athlete and renowned softball coach, was named the fifth head coach in Louisiana Softball’s storied history on June 25, 2024. ABOUT LOUISIANA The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball program’s rich tradition includes six Women’s College World Series appearances, eight NCAA Super Regional berths and 33 NCAA Regional appearances which ranks as seventh-most in NCAA history. Louisiana (45-19, 22-2 SBC in 2024), the five-time reigning Sun Belt Conference regular season champions, made its 25th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this spring which was highlighted by a national seed (No. 13) and host site at Lamson Park. FOLLOW THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin’ Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms. Matt Hebert Associate Director of Athletics Communications Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® 201 Reinhardt Dr. Room 167 Lafayette, LA 70506 desk (337) 482-6330 cell (337) 288-6023 email matth@louisiana.edu twitter @mattlhebert
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
