Houston Christian University Women's Softball

Hall enters her 25th season as head coach of the HBU softball team, also serving as the department's Senior Woman Administrator. Hall signed a three-year contract extension through the 2018-19 academic year on Jan. 4, 2016. She ranks as HBU's all-time winningest coach in any sport with a record of 741-440. The Huskies are coming off a 13-32 season in 2015, finishing 5-20 in Southland Conference play. Senior first baseman/catcher Melissa Herman and freshman outfielder Nicole Shedd earned all-conference recognition following the competition of the regular season. Herman picked up second team honors, while Shedd was named honorable mention. Off the field, Herman and sophomore outfielder Cecilia Bauer were named first team Academic All-SLC, as Bauer was named to the Capital One Academic All-District first team.   HBU made the SLC Tournament for the first time in 2014, as the team went 22-28 overall and 10-6 in league play. In that tournament appearance, the Huskies won their first postseason game as a member of the conference, defeating Stephen F. Austin, 8-7. HBU had four players named All-SLC, with sophomore Kirsten Schwirtlich being tabbed NFCA All-Region.   In 2013, the Huskies went 15-27 and 6-20 in its first season as a member of the Southland. With a 13-3 win over Central Arkansas on March 19, 2013, Hall recorded her 700th win. HBU was well-recognized with post-season honors from the conference, as Lauren Schwirtlich and Victoria Granchelli were named first team All-SLC, Kirsten Schwirtlich was named to the second team and Herman was named to the third team. The Huskies also earned two of the major awards, as Lauren Schwirtlich was named Newcomer of the Year and Kirsten Schwirtlich earned Freshman of the Year honors.   In 2012, HBU went 16-33 overall and 2-4 in the conference. The Huskies beat Nebraska Omaha in the playoffs, defeating Dana Elsasser, who led the nation in ERA, but lost twice to Utah Valley in the double-elimination tournament. Herman earned first team all-conference honors, while Daniella Rodarte, Holly Webb and Keely Shuler were second team selections.   In 2011, Hall led the Huskies to one of the best seasons since their return to NCAA Division I, as HBU went 36-23 and won the Great West Conference championship. She was named the GWC Coach of the Year, while senior shortstop Mollye Mlcak and senior pitcher Jammie Weidert earned GWC Player and Pitcher of the Year honors, respectively. The Huskies also posted great marks in the classroom, as Mlcak was named a CoSIDA Academic All-America and the team earned the fourth-best GPA in all of NCAA Division I, at 3.551.   In 2010, the Huskies went 16-30 in their first season in the Great West Conference, finishing with a 2-4 conference mark. Mlcak and Sara Corcoran were named first team All-GWC, while four others were named to the second team.   In 2009, HBU went 18-23 which included a third-place finish at the Independent Tournament in Greeley, Colorado, and saw Casie Campanello earn All-Independent honors.   In 2008, she led the Huskies to an impressive 28-13 record in their return to NCAA Division I.   Since 2009, Hall has served as the SWA for the Huskies. Her duties include coordinating and/or providing support of all womans sports teams at HBU, attend home and away games and conference championships as appropriate to represent the department, participate in the hiring and evaluation of sports coaches, disseminate pertinent information to coaches, provide insight and information regarding womens issues and programming at all levels and represent HBU at Southland Conference and NCAA meetings and conventions.   Prior to taking over the reigns as head coach, Hall served as an assistant coach for three seasons. In her first year as an assistant, which also was the first year of HBU softball, the Huskies competed as a Division I member.   During her tenure as head coach, Hall has led the Huskies to nine NAIA national championship tournament appearances and national rankings, including the teams highest final ranking of second in 2005. Hall holds a career record of 732-444 at HBU and was honored by the university at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for her 500th career win during the 2006 season. She has had athletes selected All-America 31 times in her 22-year career and Academic All-America 44 times, in addition to her teams being awarded for excellence in the classroom by the NFCA.   Academics is a high priority of Halls as has been evidenced by 31 softball players receiving a spot on the Red River Athletic Conference All-Academic team for achieving a 3.0 or better grade point average. She had nine athletes named Academic All-America by the NFCA and has above a 90 percent graduation rate in her 24 years at the helm.   Hall led HBU to nine straight Red River Athletic Conference titles with the Huskies having their best record in school history in 2005 with 51 wins and setting a new low for losses with five. She was named RRAC Coach of the Year in each year the Huskies competed in the conference and after the 1999 and 2005 seasons, NFCA honored her, along with assistant coach Roger Willhite, as NAIA Southwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year.   Hall, who received her bachelors degree from HBU in 1988 and her masters in sport sciences from the United States Sports Academy in 1991.   Hall attended Marian Christian High School where she was a four-time all-district selection in softball and voted as the teams Most Valuable Player twice. She played on summer softball teams that attended the state tournament five times and finished fifth in the nation in 1980. In addition to softball, Hall played basketball and volleyball at MCHS.   After high school, Hall attended HBU on a volleyball scholarship where she was a two-year letterman for the Huskies. Hall also served as assistant volleyball coach for her high school alma mater while attending HBU.   Hall has enjoyed much success at HBU, building the Huskies into a perennial NAIA national power. She served as chairman of the Red River Athletic Conference and Region VI softball coaches and as a national rater for the NAIA. She also is a past president of the NAIA Softball Coaches Association.

Mary-Ellen Hall enters her 35th season at the helm of her alma mater, and she also serves as the athletic department's Senior Woman Administrator. She is the all-time winningest coach in any sport at HCU with 922 victories.  2025 was an injury-ravaged year for the Huskies, who had five players felled by season-ending injuries during the campaign. HCU finished 17-33 overall and 10-17 in the Southland Conference, advancing to its fifth consecutive SLC Tournament. Senior Haylie Savage became the program's first-ever four-time All-SLC selection, and was joined with All-Conference honors by AB Garcia and Maddy Bailey, who was named to the conference's inaugural All-Defensive Team. HCU also had 13 players named to the Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete list, the fourth straight year with 10 or more and also a new program record. Hall's Huskies posted the highest GPA in the Southland at 3.53 on the year. The 2024 season ended with a third straight trip to the Southland Tournament. The Huskies defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi before falling to Nicholls and regular-season champion McNeese. HCU finished the season with a 23-27 overall record and went 9-15 in the SLC, with junior Haylie Savage being selected to All-Southland for the third straight season. HCU had 11 seniors, seven of whom were part of the last recruiting class with long-time assistant Roger Willhite. Hall picked up her 900th career victory with a come-from-behind 8-7 extra-inning victory at Texas A&M-Commerce. Hall led the 2023 squad to a 20-33 overall mark and a 9-15 SLC ledger, which culminated in a third straight appearance in the conference tournament. The Huskies would place a trio of players on the All-Conference team, including 2023 Southland Freshman of the Year AB Garcia. Garcia was also named to the NFCA Top 25 Freshman Watchlist while earning second team NFCA All-Region honors. The Huskies also excelled in the classroom, putting five players on the Academic All-Conference team while seeing seven honored with Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete accolades. HCU went 19-29 in 2022, but then raced to the semifinals of the Southland Tournament with two come-from-behind upsets of third-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Huskies went 22-17 and 15-12 in the SLC in 2021, with four players being selected to the All-Conference team and four to the Academic All-Conference teams. The 2020 season was cut short due to Covid, with the Huskies going 12-10 before play was halted. In 2019, HCU went 23-23 overall and 10-16 in conference, and Demi Janak picked up All-Conference honors for the second time in her career. In 2016, the Huskies went 15-29 with a 7-19 mark in Southland Conference play. Sophomore Libby Brown was named Second Team All-Southland Conference while freshman Demi Janak earned Honorable Mention honors. During the 2015 season, the Huskies went 13-32, 5-20 in the SLC. Senior first baseman/catcher Melissa Herman and freshman outfielder Nicole Shedd earned all-conference recognition following the competition of the regular season. Herman picked up second team honors, while Shedd was named honorable mention.   HBU made the SLC Tournament for the first time in 2014, as the team went 22-28 overall and 10-6 in league play. In that tournament appearance, the Huskies won their first postseason game as a member of the conference, defeating Stephen F. Austin, 8-7. HBU had four players named All-SLC, with sophomore Kirsten Schwirtlich being tabbed NFCA All-Region.   In 2013, the Huskies went 15-27 and 6-20 in its first season as a member of the Southland. With a 13-3 win over Central Arkansas on March 19, 2013, Hall recorded her 700th win. HBU was well-recognized with post-season honors from the conference, as Lauren Schwirtlich and Victoria Granchelli were named first team All-SLC, Kirsten Schwirtlich was named to the second team and Herman was named to the third team. The Huskies also earned two of the major awards, as Lauren Schwirtlich was named Newcomer of the Year and Kirsten Schwirtlich earned Freshman of the Year honors.   In 2012, HBU went 16-33 overall and 2-4 in the conference. The Huskies beat Nebraska Omaha in the playoffs, defeating Dana Elsasser, who led the nation in ERA, but lost twice to Utah Valley in the double-elimination tournament. Herman earned first team all-conference honors, while Daniella Rodarte, Holly Webb and Keely Shuler were second team selections.   In 2011, Hall led the Huskies to one of the best seasons since their return to NCAA Division I, as HBU went 36-23 and won the Great West Conference championship. She was named the GWC Coach of the Year, while senior shortstop Mollye Mlcak and senior pitcher Jammie Weidert earned GWC Player and Pitcher of the Year honors, respectively. The Huskies also posted great marks in the classroom, as Mlcak was named a CoSIDA Academic All-America and the team earned the fourth-best GPA in all of NCAA Division I, at 3.551.   In 2010, the Huskies went 16-30 in their first season in the Great West Conference, finishing with a 2-4 conference mark. Mlcak and Sara Corcoran were named first team All-GWC, while four others were named to the second team.   In 2009, HBU went 18-23 which included a third-place finish at the Independent Tournament in Greeley, Colorado, and saw Casie Campanello earn All-Independent honors.   In 2008, she led the Huskies to an impressive 28-13 record in their return to NCAA Division I.   Since 2009, Hall has served as the SWA for the Huskies. Her duties include coordinating and/or providing support of all woman’s sports teams at HCU, attend home and away games and conference championships as appropriate to represent the department, participate in the hiring and evaluation of sports coaches, disseminate pertinent information to coaches, provide insight and information regarding women’s issues and programming at all levels and represent HCU at Southland Conference and NCAA meetings and conventions.   Prior to taking over the reigns as head coach, Hall served as an assistant coach for three seasons. In her first year as an assistant, which also was the first year of HCU softball, the Huskies competed as a Division I member.   During her tenure as head coach, Hall has led the Huskies to nine NAIA national championship tournament appearances and national rankings, including the team’s highest final ranking of second in 2005. Hall was honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for her 500th career win during the 2006 season. She has had athletes selected All-America 32 times in her career, with 94 total All-Conference/All-Region nods spanning three conferences during her tenure.   Academics has always been a high priority for Hall over the years. In total as of 2023, there have been 150 Academic All-Conference selections, and 94 Academic All-America accolades. She has also had 97 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes in that span while also seeing her teams being awarded for excellence in the classroom by the NFCA.    Hall led HBU to nine straight Red River Athletic Conference titles with the Huskies having their best record in school history in 2005 with 51 wins and setting a new low for losses with five. She was named RRAC Coach of the Year in each year the Huskies competed in the conference and after the 1999 and 2005 seasons, NFCA honored her, along with assistant coach Roger Willhite, as NAIA Southwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year.   Hall is a 1988 graduate of Houston Baptist University. She received her Master’s degree in sport sciences from the United States Sports Academy in 1991. She was named to the HCU Sports Hall of Honor in 2012. Hall attended Marian Christian High School where she was a four-time all-district selection in softball and voted as the team’s Most Valuable Player twice. She played on summer softball teams that attended the state tournament five times and finished fifth in the nation in 1980. In addition to softball, Hall played basketball and volleyball at MCHS.   After high school, Hall attended HBU on a volleyball scholarship where she was a two-year letterman for the Huskies. Hall also served as assistant volleyball coach for her high school alma mater while attending HBU.   Hall has enjoyed much success at HBU, building the Huskies into a perennial NAIA national power and overseeing a transition back to the NCAA Division 1 ranks. She has served as chairman of the Red River Athletic Conference and Region VI softball coaches and as a national rater for the NAIA. She also is a past president of the NAIA Softball Coaches Association. 

Cortni Emanuel is in her third season as an assistant coach for the Huskies. Emanuel comes to the Huskies as one of the most decorated softball players in the history of the University of Georgia. A four-year starter in the outfield, Emanuel helped UGA to two Women’s College World Series appearances, and her name is scattered amongst the career leaderboards for the Bulldogs. The Missouri City native and Ridge Point High School product was a .417 career hitter for Georgia, ranking second all-time just behind her sister Sydni, whom she played with for three seasons. Cortni also ranks third in career runs (224), second in hits (331) and second in stolen bases (173) and is one of just three players in school history to accumulate 300 career hits.   She capped off her career by leading the Bulldogs to a World Series berth in 2018. She ignited the offense with a team-best .431 batting average while swiping 52 bases. Her 23-game hitting streak that season still ranks as the longest in school history. The four-time All-SEC selection, four-time NFCA All-Region and three-time NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-American was also a three-time USA Player of the Year finalist. She also earned the NFCA Gold Shoe Award for leading the nation in stolen bases before being drafted by the USSSA Pride of the Women's Professional Fastpitch League. A member of the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics honor roll and nominated for the UGA Clifford Lewis Leadership Award, Emanuel graduated from UGA with a degree in Psychology in 2018. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Sports and Fitness Administration/Management in 2019. Prior to coming to HCU, Emanuel spent a season as the head coach at Houston Christian High School and then one year as an assistant at Houston Episcopal High School. She has also been a lead softball consultant for CE3 Performance Academy. The daughter of Bert and Teri Emanuel, Cortni has three sisters, Sydni, Brittni and Whittni; and one brother Bert, Jr.. Her father Bert was a standout wide receiver for the Rice Owls as well as a two-year starter on the baseball team. He was selected in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the  Atlanta Falcons in 1994, and went on to an eight-year career in the league. Her younger brother BJ is currently a quarterback at Central Michigan University.