University of South Alabama Women's Softball

Over the past 18 seasons of competitive action, the University of South Alabama softball program has only seen one person at the helm; Becky Clark. Clark has been with the program since its infancy, beginning the program from the ground and raising it to one of the most respected mid-majors in all of Division I softball. Under her direction, South has claimed three Sun Belt Conference Tournament titles (2012, ’13 and ’15) and advanced to the NCAA Regional final in six times (2012, ’13, ’14,’15, ’21 and ‘24).  The Jaguars have also eclipsed the 40-win mark four times during that span.   Under Clark’s direction during that span, 66 student-athletes have received all-Sun Belt honors – 32 first-team selections and 34 second-team selections.  USA has also had 25 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region selections and three NFCA Second-Team All-American selections.  During that same time, South Alabama has had a SBC Player of the Year selection (Brittany Fowler, 2013), Pitcher of the Year selection (Olivia Lackie, 2023), two Freshmen of the Year selections (Haley Fagan, 2013 and Hannah Campbell, 2011) and a SBC Newcomer of the Year selection (Tara Donaldson, 2007). The Brierfield, Ala., native has also been named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year on three occasions (2011, ’22 and ’23).  Clark was named head coach for the Jaguar program in the summer of 2005, prior to the team’s first season and over that stretch, the Jag skipper has steered the program to undeniable competitive success in a short time, in addition to creating a culture that carries over into the classroom.  In her 18 seasons at South Alabama, Clark has amassed an overall record of 566-364-2, while also accumulating a Sun Belt record of 233-160.  During her 21 seasons as a head coach, Clark has registered an overall competitive record of 722-398-3 combined at her two coaching stints.   The Jaguars have also excelled in the classroom under Clark as USA has had 160 student-athletes named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List, while 109 student-athletes have earned Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll honors. Additionally, 152 players have been named to the NFCA All-America Scholar list, an award given to student-athletes that acquire at least a 3.5 grade-point average or higher during the academic year.  The Jags have had at least seven honorees for the annual award every year since 2007 and posted a program-record 18 selections for the 2020-21 academic year, and 16 the following year. During the 2024 campaign, the Jaguars defeated five Top 25 opponents, which included road wins at Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State and South Carolina, and tied Arizona (1-1) at a neutral site game which was halted in the 11th inning. South Alabama also returned to the postseason, advancing to the Gainesville Regional final. South Alabama’s 2-0 victory over then-No. 10 Alabama (3/2/24) was not only the Jags’ second win over a Top 25 opponent during the spring, but was also the 700th over her coaching career. Clark also reached 550 wins at South Alabama with the Jaguars’ 3-2 win in the series finale against Texas State (3/30/24). Olivia Lackie became just the second player in program history to earn NFCA All-American honors as she was selected to the organization’s second team, and joined Hannah Campbell – who earned second-team honors in 2013 and 2014.  Lackie was also named second-team all-South Region and first-team all-SBC where she became the first player to do so in both categories.  Lackie set the career shutouts mark at South during the season and also became just the second player in program history to reach the 900-strikeout mark for her career finishing second all-time at South in the category and sixth all-time among SBC pitchers with 903. The 41 total shutouts were also second-most by a SBC pitcher, and her 14 SBC Pitcher of the Week selections during her career were a program record at South and tied for second-most of any pitcher in league history. Lackie ended her Jaguar career holding the program marks in appearances (153) and shutouts, while ranking second in opponent batting average (.183), wins (80), saves (11), tied with Campbell in no-hitters (5), while ranking second complete games (77), innings pitched (774.2) and strikeouts. Lackie ranked first in the Sun Belt in opposing batting average and strikeouts, while finishing second in the league in innings pitched, earned run average, wins and strikeouts looking. She also ranked among the NCAA leaders in complete games (second), innings pitched (third), shutouts (fourth), strikeouts (ninth), wins (ninth) and ERA (18th), shutouts (27th), while as a staff the pitching unit ranked in the Top 50 in ERA and strikeouts-to-walks.  Mackenzie Brasher led the Sun Belt Conference and finished tied for 22nd nationally in stolen bases with 28. The Orange Beach, Ala., set program career marks in games played (231), starts (224) and stolen bases (87), while finishing her time in Mobile ranked second in hits (225), third in runs scored (144) and in the Top 10 in batting average. Gabby Stagner also set the new single-season home runs mark at South with 15 and drove in 46 runs. The 2023 season was filled with many highlights, which included 39 wins, the most in a season since recording 40 during the 2015 campaign, and a program-record 20 Sun Belt Conference victories. The 20-4 league mark was the second-best in the Sun Belt. South ended the year by winning 14-straight games, the third-longest streak in program history, before falling by a run in semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship. In addition, the Jaguars were one of the hottest teams in the country at the close of 2023 winning 25 of their final 30 games. There were numerous individual honors both during and after the season. South Alabama earned eight player of the week honors, including seven of the 13 pitcher of the week accolades. Lackie broke Devin Brown’s previous single-season mark as she was named the top pitcher six times during the season. The six selections for Lackie were tied for fourth-most in a season by a Sun Belt pitcher and the seven total weekly honors were only one shy of matching the conference’s all-time mark. Lackie also became the first player in program history to be named the Sun Belt’s Pitcher of the Year as she ranked among the NCAA leaders in shutouts (second) with 12, just one shy of the national leader in the category, while also ranking among leaders in strikeouts (17th), wins (t23rd), ERA (23rd) and strike-to-walk ratio (27th). The individual award for Lackie marked the first for a Jag in over 10 seasons. For the second-straight season, Clark was named the conference’s coach of the year, while five players earned all-SBC accolades. Lackie, Victoria Ortiz and Meredith Keel were each named first-team all-league, while Jenna Hardy and Brasher took home second team honors. Lackie and Ortiz also earned second-team NFCA all-South Region honors, while Keel was named to the third team. As a staff led by Lackie, the Jags were second in the Sun Belt in ERA, shutouts, third in strikeouts and strikeouts looking, while allowing the fewest runs and earned runs in the league. South also ranked among the national leaders in several categories: sixth in ERA, 10th in strike-to-walk ratio, tied Clemson, Washington and South Dakota State for 11th in shutouts and tied for 25th in strikeouts. The Jaguar pitching staff tossed 19 shutouts in their 53 outings, and the 19 shutouts were the second-most in a season in program history. Ortiz capped off her stellar career at the plate as she became the program’s all-time leader in extra-base hits (81), doubles (46) and career multi-RBI games (37), while ranking second in home runs and third in RBI. Ortiz also neared some single-season marks as she batted .349 with 22 extra-base hits and drove in 49 runs, the most by a player since the 2015 season.  Ortiz also set a single-season reached base safely mark as she reached in 29-straight. The mark is second overall only to Brittany Fowler’s 34-game stretch, which covered the end of the 2012 season and the start of the 2013 campaign. Stagner nearly tied the program’s single-season doubles mark as she recorded 16, which were tied for the most in the SBC and the most by a Jag since the 2019 season. Clark picked up her 500th win at South Alabama in late February with a 3-2 victory over Furman, and in game two of the Georgia State series, the Jags rallied back to pick up the program’s 200th conference win. After beginning the 2022 campaign with a 5-13 record over the first 18 games, Clark and the Jaguars righted the ship compiling a 20-8 record down the stretch, including winning 16 of their 22 SBC games. The 16 league wins were the most by the program since recording 17 during the 2016 campaign. South finished second in the Sun Belt standings and had five members of the roster earn all-conference accolades. Lackie, Brasher and Caroline Nichols were named first team, while Keel and Hardy received second-team honors. Lackie and Brasher were both named third-team all-South region by the NFCA. Kamdyn Kvistad ended her Jaguar career as the program’s home run leader (36), while ranking second in RBI (128), third in multi-RBI games (31) and fifth in both hits (172) and extra-base hits (63). Ortiz led the club with 26 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs and 12 doubles, while establishing a new single-season slugging percentage (.750) mark for the program.  Led by Lackie and Hardy, the Jaguar pitching staff ranked second in the league in opponent’s batting average (.210) and third in ERA (2.59). They also allowed the fewest runs (133) and issued the fewest walks (87) in the Sun Belt. The 2021 season saw many highlights happen for the program. During the opening weekend of the season, South Alabama picked up a 9-8 victory at 14th-ranked Georgia and then at the beginning of March, the Jaguars picked up the program’s first-ever win over No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The two road wins versus ranked Power 5 members. Clark also picked up a pair of milestone victories as she earned her 600th career with a 6-1 win over Northwestern State on Feb. 28. Two weeks later, the Jag skipper earned her 450th victory with the program as South defeated App State 4-0 in Mobile. After a six-year hiatus, South Alabama returned to the national postseason as they were one of four Sun Belt teams to receive an NCAA Regional bid, playing at the Gainesville Regional. The Jags also advanced to SBC Championship game for the fifth time in program history after playing four games in a span of 24 hours. Lackie and Keel earned first-team all-SBC accolades, while Abby Krzywiecki and Brasher received second-team honors. Keel (first team) and Lackie (third team) were also named NFCA All-Region. Lackie became just the second pitcher in program history to earn Sun Belt Conference weekly accolades four or more times in a season, joining Brown who did so five times during the 2016 season, while the Lackie was selected as the Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week (3/9) and the DISoftball Freshman of the Week (3/8) after her complete-game shutout victory at Alabama. Keel ranked 10th in the SBC in hits (54), while Kvistad finished the season tied for fourth in the league in home runs (11) and tied the program’s career home run as she hit her 28th versus Texas State in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Championships. The 2019 season saw the Jaguars post some impressive offensive numbers as the club nearly tied the single-season mark for doubles, recording 76 and finishing one shy of the mark set by the 2012 squad. South also saw a power surge in its line up ending the season with 53 home runs, second-most in a season at USA. Nine players recorded at least one home run with eight of those finishing the season with three or more.  The Jaguars ranked second in the Sun Belt in doubles and third in home runs, batting average (.291), hits (388) and slugging percentage (.523). Kennedy Cronan led the way with 11 long balls, which were tied for fourth-most in the SBC, tied two other players for second-most in a season and tied a freshman mark. Cronan also earned third-team NFCA all-region honors, marking the ninth-consecutive season in which a Jaguar has earned all-region accolades from the organization.  Brittani Reid and Ortiz also had impressive offensive seasons as the duo led the Sun Belt in doubles (17), and set the single-season program mark in that category. Both Reid and Ortiz earned Community Coffee Player of the Week honors during the season and were both named first-team all-league at year’s end, extending South’s streak of first-team honorees to six straight seasons in which one player on the Jag roster has done so. In 2018 under Clark’s direction, Brown and Kaleigh Todd became the second and third players in Jaguar history to earn first-team all-league honors for three times during their careers (H. Campbell).  Haleigh Lowe as also named to the league’s second team. The duo also left their mark in the program record books leaving Mobile the career leader in several categories.  Brown – who all ready owned the double-digit strikeout games mark (39) – picked up two more milestones during her final collegiate season as she became the program’s all-time strikeouts (932) and complete games (31) leader.  The Jag senior also concluded her career ranked fourth all-time among Sun Belt Conference pitchers in strikeouts and was one of just five players to ever eclipse the 900-strikeout mark for their careers.  Todd also set new career program standard marks in hits (231), batting average (.374), stolen bases (75) and multi-hit games (63). Todd finished the 2018 campaign ranked second in the Sun Belt in batting average (.388), while her 69 hits were third-most in the conference.  Brown also finished atop the league leaders in several different categories, ranking second in both strikeouts (231) and strikeouts looking (66), while also finishing third in earned run average, opponent’s batting average and innings pitched.  Brown’s strikeout tally also ranked 25th-best in the NCAA at the end of the season. Brown and Todd also became the fourth and fifth players, respectively, to be drafted professionally as the former was the 29th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2018 National Pro Fastpitch College Draft by the Cleveland Comets, while the latter was the 33rd overall selection by Moh-BEEL! USA in the Inaugural American Softball Association Draft. Clark started her second decade at the helm with the Jaguars during the 2017 campaign.  South Alabama opened up the season by winning 13 of its first 14 contests which tied the 2014 club for the program’s best record after the first 14 games of the season.  The solid start continued as the Jags posted a 17-3 mark after the first 20 games which tied with the ’14 and 2011 squads for the best record after the first 20 games of the season.   Todd continued to elevate herself as one of the top hitters both in the Sun Belt and nationally as she finished the season ranked second in batting average (.398), while her 74 hits were not only second-most by a Jag for a single season and third highest in the league, but also ranked 35th in the NCAA.  Todd also ranked among the SBC Top 10 in triples and stolen bases (third), runs scored (seventh) and on-base percentage (10th).  Todd earned third-team all-South Region honors from the NFCA. Once again Brown continued to command the circle as she led the conference in opposing batting average (.184) and fewest runs allowed (44), while her earned run average (1.51) was second-best in the Sun Belt.  Brown also ranked fourth in the NCAA with 12 shutouts, and among the national leaders in ERA (30th) and strikeouts (34th).  As a staff, South Alabama was third in the SBC and 33rd in the NCAA in ERA at 2.31.  Brown also earned Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week accolades four times, tossed her fourth-career no-hitter versus Tennessee Tech and became just the second Jaguar pitcher to eclipse the 700-strikeout mark.  Both Brown and Todd were rewarded for their play as the duo was named first-team all-Sun Belt.  Kristian Foster, Amanda Minahan and Destin Vicknair were also named all-league second team.  Following the season, Brown and Todd (Tuscaloosa site) and Lowe and MC Nichols (Auburn site) were selected to participate on two all-star teams from the state of Alabama against the USA Softball National team. During the 2016 season, South Alabama ranked second in the conference in batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.389), and were led at the plate by the all-conference duo of Emily Messer and Todd.  Messer (.429) and Todd (.415) each earned first-team all-league accolades after ranking second and third, respectively, in the conference in batting.  Stephanie Pilkington, Haleigh Lane and Lowe also earned second-team all-SBC honors in the field during the season.   In the circle, the Jaguar pitching staff again was stellar as South Alabama led the Sun Belt in opponent’s batting average (.204), hits allowed (256) and batters struck out looking (120), while ranking second in earned-run average (2.12), strikeouts (427) and runs allowed (128).  As a staff, USA also ranked 14th in the NCAA in ERA that same season. Brown continued to develop as one of the top pitchers in the conference in ’16.  Brown – a five-time SBC Pitcher of the Week selection during the season – tied for the league lead in ERA (1.66), while her .165 opponent’s batting average was also a top mark in the Sun Belt.  Brown recorded three no-hitters during her sophomore season, including the just the third perfect game in program history against ULM (3/20/16).  For her gem in the circle, Brown was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Co-Pitcher of the Week. Brown also ranked among the Top 25 nationally in several categories in 2016 – strikeouts per seven innings (second, 11.0), shutouts (third, 11), strikeouts (fourth, 324), hits allowed per 7 innings (11th, 4.13) and ERA (23rd, 1.66).  Following the season, Brown was named first-team all-Sun Belt and along with Messer, was a second-team all-South Region for her efforts. Messer became the first Jaguar position player to be drafted as she was the 31st player selected in the 2016 NPF Draft by the Akron Racers, capping off a season in which she set single-season marks in hits (76) and batting average.  The 17 Sun Belt wins by the Jaguars during the ’16 season also a new school record. South Alabama posted a its fourth-straight 40-win season during the ’15 campaign, finishing with a 40-13 overall mark and a 16-4 record in league play.  USA finished the season ranked 23rd in the final USA Today/NFCA top 25 poll.  After finishing second during the regular season, South Alabama entered the SBC tournament as the second seed and battled back from the loser’s bracket to win the program’s third conference tournament title, defeating 10th-ranked Louisiana 2-0 in the championship game.  Kaitlyn Griffith was selected as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. With the tournament championship, South Alabama made its fourth NCAA Regional appearance in Auburn, Ala., where the Jaguars advanced to their fourth-straight regional final against the Tigers, who eventually advanced to the College World Series. Kalen McGill and Chloe Rathburn earned first-team all-Sun Belt honors, while Griffith, Farish Beard, Minahan and Pilkington were named to the league’s second team.  Griffith also became the program’s single-season home run leader in 2015 as she registered 13 homers.  Beard was also selected as the 33rd overall pick by the Dallas Charge in the NPF Draft at the conclusion of her career. In 2014, the USA pitching staff, led by former standouts Campbell and Beard, secured the NCAA ERA title for the first time ever as the Jaguars posted an ERA of 1.29.  South Alabama also ranked nationally in fielding percentage (seventh, .976) slugging percentage (24th, .492). South Alabama finished the season with a 42-14 overall record and a 15-6 conference mark, advancing the SBC tournament championship game.  USA also made its third-straight NCAA Regional appearance, advancing to the final against Alabama. The Jaguars climbed as high as 11th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll that season and as high as 12th in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll.  The Jags would go on to end the year ranked 23rd in both polls. Campbell, now an associate head coach on the Jaguar staff, became the first South Alabama female student-athlete to be selected in a professional draft when she was selected third overall in the 2014 NPF Draft by the Akron Racers. Campbell also earned NFCA All-American honors for the second-straight season. The 2013 season will go down as one of the most memorable one to date in program history as USA won a single-season record 48 games and hosted its first-ever NCAA Regional after repeating as SBC Tournament champs after sweeping through the league tournament.  As it did for most of the season, the Jags rode its pitching staff throughout the postseason as they allowed just one run in the opening game and then recorded three-straight shutouts en route to their second conference title. Behind the pitching of Campbell and Beard, South Alabama finished third in the NCAA with an ERA of 1.43. South Alabama also had a program-record eight all-SBC selections, including six first-team selections.  Fowler (Player of the Year) and Fagan (Freshman of the Year) picked up individual league accolades during the season and Campbell was named the conference tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for the second-consecutive year. Clark and her staff were also honored for their efforts as they were selected as the 2013 NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year after helping the program end the season ranked 17th in the final USA Today/NFCA poll and 18th in the final ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. Under Clark’s direction, South Alabama posted the program’s first 40-win season during the 2012 campaign, finishing the season with a 41-17 overall record and a 17-7 mark in Sun Belt action.  USA also swept through the SBC Championships, capping off its tournament run with a thrilling 3-1 victory over top-seeded and sixth-ranked Louisiana to earn the program’s first conference championship.  Campbell was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after allowing just one run in 22.0 innings of work. The Jaguars would go on to make their first NCAA Regional appearance advancing to the regional final before falling to regional host and eventual national champion Alabama. In 2011, the turnaround for Clark and the Jags began as USA finished with a 37-17 overall record – the program’s first winning record since the inaugural season – and a semifinal appearance at the SBC Tournament.  For her efforts, Clark was named the SBC Coach of the Year. Outfielder Evelyne Pare became the first Jag to earn both first-team all-SBC and Louisville Slugger/NFCA second-team all-South Region honors in 2008. Clark began laying the foundation for her program from the outset as her first club finished with a 36-23 record and a fifth-place finish in the Sun Belt after being picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll.  Tara Donaldson was also named the Sun Belt’s Co-Newcomer of the Year that spring as four players were also selected second-team all-SBC.  Clark came to South Alabama in the summer of 2005 after three stellar seasons at the University of Mobile.  In her final season with the Rams, Clark led the 2005 team to a 51-13 record and its second-consecutive fourth-place finish at the NAIA National Tournament.  In her three seasons with the Rams registered an outstanding 156-33-1 record and three national tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish in 2003.  She also led Mobile to three consecutive GCAC Tournament championships. While at Mobile, Clark coached two Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Players of the Year, three GCAC Pitchers of the Year, six NAIA first-team All-Americans, six second-team All-Americans and three honorable mention All-Americans. Prior to joining the head coaching ranks, Clark had stops at the University of Mobile (1994-99), The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, Calif. (2000) and Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) Community College (2001-02).  While an assistant at Mobile in 1998, Clark was also a member of the NAIA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year. Clark began her collegiate playing career at Troy in 1990-91 before transferring to Mobile, where she played three seasons before graduating cum laude in 1995 with a B.A. in English and a minor in marketing.  In 1999, she earned an M.A. in education from Mobile, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.  As a player, Clark was twice named an Academic All-American while with the Rams garnering the honor in 1993 and 1994. 

Former University of South Alabama softball All-American pitcher Hannah Campbell enters her 10th season as a member of the coaching staff. Campbell was named assistant coach for Jaguar softball on Aug. 19, 2015, and on September 1, 2023, she was promoted to senior associate head coach. Campbell returned to the program in her first coaching role after finishing her second season with the Akron Racers of National Pro Fastpitch. At South, Campbell oversees pitcher development at South Alabama and assists with pitch calling and strategy.  She also assists Jaguar head coach Becky Clark in all phases of game-day strategy, player development, film break down and scouting. Among her other responsibilities are recruiting, oversight of the program’s alumni database, while coordinating systematic correspondences with alumni.  Campbell also oversees the program’s social media accounts, assists with camp organization and team travel when needed. Campbell, along with her former teammate Brittany Fowler (Kessler), became the first two members from the Jaguar softball program to be selected to the University of South Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame as they joined the 2019 induction class. Under her tutelage, the Jaguar pitching staff has had 20 Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week selections, as well as one Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week and one DISoftball Freshman of the Week selection honorees. Two pitchers – Devin Brown (2016) and Olivia Lackie (2021-23) – have earned National Coaches Fastpitch Association all-South Region honors. Two pitchers have received six first-team selections, while three more have also earned second-team all-league accolades. Olivia Lackie became just the second player in program history to earn NFCA All-American (second team) honors in 2024, joining Campbell in that category. Lackie also earned second-team all-South Region and first-team all-SBC where she became the first player to do so in both categories. The Walker, La., native set the career shutouts mark at South during the season and became just the second player in program history to reach the 900-strikeout mark for her career . She finished second all-time at South in the category and sixth all-time among SBC pitchers with 903. Her 41 total shutouts were also second-most by a SBC pitcher, and her 14 SBC Pitcher of the Week selections were a program record at South and tied for second-most of any pitcher in league history. Lackie recorded four wins over teams that were ranked in the Top 25 at the time – at Alabama, at South Carolina, at Arkansas and versus Texas State – in 2024, while also picking up a save in South’s road victory at Mississippi State.  In those five contests, Lackie allowed just two earned runs in 23.1 innings of work, while also tossing four scoreless innings versus Arizona, a game in which the Jaguars tied the Wildcats. Lackie ranked first in the Sun Belt in opposing batting average and strikeouts, while finishing second in the league in innings pitched, earned run average, wins and strikeouts looking. She also ranked among the NCAA leaders in complete games (second), innings pitched (third), shutouts (fourth), strikeouts (ninth), wins (ninth) and ERA (18th), shutouts (27th), while as a staff the pitching unit ranked in the Top 50 in ERA and strikeouts-to-walks.  The 2023 campaign was one of the best in the circle for the Jag pitching staff as the duo of Olivia Lackie and Jenna Hardy was one of the most formidable tandems in the country, as well as the Sun Belt. Lackie became the first player in program history to be named the Sun Belt’s Pitcher of the Year and earned first-team all-league honors for the third-straight season, while Hardy received second-team accolades for the second-straight time. The individual award for Lackie marked the first for a Jag in over 10 seasons, and the Walker, La., native was named to the NFCA all-South Region second team. South Alabama captured seven of the 13 pitcher of the week accolades with Lackie breaking Devin Brown’s single-season mark with six selections during the season. The six selections for Lackie were tied for fourth-most in a season by a Sun Belt pitcher and the seven total weekly honors were only one shy of matching the conference’s all-time mark. Lackie ranked among the NCAA leaders in shutouts (second) with 12, just one shy of the national leader in the category, while also ranking among leaders in strikeouts (17th), wins (t23rd), ERA (23rd) and strike-to-walk ratio (27th).  As a staff, the Jags were second in the Sun Belt in ERA (1.63), shutouts (19), third in strikeouts (361) and strikeouts looking (105), while allowing the fewest runs (91) and earned runs (81) in the league. South also ranked among the national leaders in several categories: sixth in ERA, 10th in strike-to-walk ratio (3.97), tied Clemson, Washington and South Dakota State for 11th in shutouts and tied for 25th in strikeouts. The 19 shutouts were the second-most in a season in program history. The 105 strikeouts looking tied the 2022 club for the second-most in program history, while both the 1.63 ERA and the .199 opponent batting average were both third-lowest for a season at South. The 91 runs allowed were just one shy of matching the 2013 team for the fewest allowed by a Jaguar staff. South Alabama also recorded three no-hitters during the 2023 season with the first coming on a combined effort, the first in program history, by Lackie and Madison Lagle versus Mississippi Valley State (2/17). Lackie also tossed a no-hitter a day later against Missouri State (2/18), while Hardy recorded the first of her career a few weeks later against Bowling Green (3/4) at the Jane B. Moore Memorial in Auburn, Ala.  Led in the circle by all-conference hurlers Lackie (first team) and Hardy (second team), the South Alabama pitching staff ranked second in the league in opponent’s batting average (.210) and third in ERA (2.59). They also allowed the fewest runs (133) and issued the fewest walks (87) in the Sun Belt. The 105 strikeouts looking by the staff were the second most recorded in a single season, while the 237 hits allowed and the 87 walks issued were the second fewest.  Lackie earned third-team NFCA all-South Region honors for the second straight season, while she was named SBC Pitcher of the Week for her work in the UTA series sweep to start league play. Against the Mavericks, Lackie tossed the program’s 19th no-hitter in the series opener.  She was named to 2022 Extra Elite 100 College Player Rankings during the preseason and went on to rank among the league leaders in the Sun Belt  in earned run average and opposing batting average (second), strikeouts and strikeouts looking — 69 (third), while her three saves were the most among any pitcher. She ranked in the top 50 nationally in several categories — hits allowed per seven innings (4.14 - 15th), strikeouts per seven innings (9.4 - 29th), shutouts (30th), saves (36th)    Lackie lowered her ERA to 1.61 in conference play and held opponents to a .149 batting average, and tossed six shutouts, and had a nearly 10:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio against league competition (129-25). Hardy finished in the top 10 among league pitchers in ERA and strikeouts looking (30 - 10th), while her 17 walks allowed were third fewest. She also ranked in the top 50 nationally in walks allowed per seven innings (1.11 - 23rd) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.94 - 42nd). During the 2021 season, Olivia Lackie a earned first-team all-SBC accolades, while also receiving third-team NFCA all-region honors. Lackie was also selected as one of 30 freshmen from around the country as a candidate for the 2021 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award. Lackie became just the second pitcher in program history to earn Sun Belt Conference weekly accolades four or more times in a season, joining Devin Brown who did so five times during the 2016 season, while the Lackie was selected as the Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week (3/9) and the DISoftball Freshman of the Week (3/8) after her complete-game shutout victory at Alabama. The Walker, La., native set a freshman record for strikeouts in a season and her 250 K’s were the second most for a season by a Jaguar pitcher. She led the Sun Belt in innings pitched, and was second in strikeouts and tied for second in saves. Lackie also finished the season sitting among the NCAA leaders in both strikeouts (14th) and saves (T-14th) . In 2018, Brown – who all ready owned the double-digit strikeout games mark (39) – picked up two more milestones during her final collegiate season as she became the program’s all-time strikeouts (932) and complete games (31) leader.  The Jag senior also concluded her career ranked fourth all-time among Sun Belt Conference pitchers in strikeouts and was one of just five players to ever eclipse the 900-strikeout mark for their careers.  Brown became one of two players in program history to earn first-team all-league honors three times  during their career.   Brown also finished atop the Sun Belt leaders in several different categories at the end of the 2018 season, ranking second in both strikeouts (231) and strikeouts looking (66), while also finishing third in earned run average, opponent’s batting average and innings pitched.  Brown’s strikeout tally also ranked 25th-best in the NCAA in the final statistical rankings. Brown also joined Campbell in another category as she became one of four South Alabama players to be drafted professionally in program history.  Brown was 29th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2018 National Pro Fastpitch College Draft by the Cleveland Comets, which were formerly known as the Akron Racers – Campbell’s previous team – before relocating. As a staff, the Jaguars gave up the fewest home runs in the Sun Belt Conference, while ranking second in the league in strikeouts looking (89), and third in strikeouts (312), earned run average (2.58) and opposing batting average (.229).  Alexis Reid also became the 17th player in program history to record a no-hitter, doing so against Butler (2/11/18) at the Friends of Jaclyn Invitational in Winter Springs, Fla.  Brown (3/13) and Reid (3/27) also earned Community Coffee Pitcher of the Week honors during the 2018 season.  In her three seasons at USA, South has had 10 weekly pitcher of the week selections by the conference. During the 2017 campaign, South Alabama continued to rank as one of the top staffs in the circle as the Jaguars were third in the Sun Belt in earned run average (.2.31), opposing batting average (.224), strikeouts (300), fewest hits allowed (313), fewest runs allowed (145), fewest earned runs allowed (123) and fewest walks (120).  South Alabama also ranked 33rd nationally in team ERA. Brown (first) and Destin Vicknair (second) both earned all-league honors, while Brown was also named to the Sun Belt’s all-tournament team.   Brown – who earned SBC Pitcher of the Week honors four times throughout the season – tossed her fourth career no-hitter on Feb. 24 against Tennessee Tech after striking out 15 Golden Eagle batters.  During the preseason, Brown was named to a pair of All-American teams while also being rated No. 5 on the FastPitch News Preseason Top-50 Pitchers List.  Her 12 shutouts were fourth-most in the NCAA and also set a new single-season program mark. Brown ranked second in the Sun Belt in earned run average (1.51) and strikeouts (194) and her .184 opposing batting average was lowest in the league.  She also ranked among the NCAA leaders in fewest hits allowed (120 – 28th), ERA (30th), strikeouts (34th) and strikeouts per seven innings (44th). During the season, Brown passed Campbell to move into second place on the program’s career strikeout list and in her second start versus UL Monroe in the SBC tourney, she became just the second pitcher to eclipse the 700-strikeout mark for her career as she had six strikeouts in the win. In her first season with the Jaguar pitching staff, South Alabama led the Sun Belt in opponent’s batting average (.204), hits allowed (256) and batters struck out looking (120), while ranking second in earned-run average (2.12), strikeouts (427) and runs allowed (128).  As a staff, USA also ranked 14th in the NCAA in ERA that same season. Brown continued to develop as one of the top pitchers in the conference in ’16.  Brown – a five-time SBC Pitcher of the Week selection during the ’16 season – tied for the league lead in ERA (1.66), while her .165 opponent’s batting average was also a top mark in the Sun Belt.  Brown recorded three no-hitters during her sophomore season, including the just the third perfect game in program history against UL Monroe (3/20/16).  For her gem in the circle, Brown was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Co-Pitcher of the Week. During the 2016 season, Brown also ranked among the top 25 nationally in several categories – strikeouts per 7 innings (second, 11.0), shutouts (third, 11), strikeouts (fourth, 324), hits allowed per 7 innings (11th, 4.13) and ERA (23rd, 1.66).  Following the season, Brown was named first-team all-Sun Belt and second-team all-South Region for her efforts. The Satsuma, Ala., native twice earned All-American distinction from the NFCA during her collegiate career (2011-14), in addition to being named an all-South Region recipient all four seasons at the university.  She was a first-team all-region selection each of her last three seasons and earned second-team honors as a freshman. Campbell was drafted third overall in the 2014 NPF Draft, becoming the first-ever Jaguar softball player to advance to the professional stage and the first-ever South Alabama female student-athlete to be drafted professionally.   The left-hander was a two-time first-team all-Sun Belt Conference honoree and was a Top 25 finalist for the 2014 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award as a senior after finishing the campaign with the third-best ERA in the NCAA, which helped the Jaguars claim the national ERA title that year as they allowed just 1.29 runs.  Campbell also led the SBC in ERA, allowing just 0.95 runs per seven innings. Campbell was earned first-team all-conference accolades during her junior and senior seasons, while earning second-team honors at the conclusion of her freshman and sophomore seasons.  She was also named the league’s freshman of the year in 2011 and was twice selected as the Sun Belt Conference Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player picking up the honor after leading the Jaguars to the 2012 and 2013 league tournament title.  She was also a member of three NCAA Regional teams at USA, doing so each of her final three seasons. In 2013, Campbell led the Sun Belt and ranked second in the NCAA in ERA (1.08).  As a staff, USA was third nationally in ERA (1.43).  Her 10 shutouts were tied for 11th in the NCAA and her six saves were fourth.  Campbell appeared in 149 games in the circle and ended her career with an 83-34 overall record, 93 complete games, 35 shutouts (28 solo – 7 combined), 16 saves, 666 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA in 791.1 innings of work. At the end of her time in Mobile, she ranked among the top 10 in several career categories – first in wins, saves, appearances, complete games, shutouts and innings pitched, second in strikeouts, combined shutouts, starts (112) and fewest walks allowed per seven innings (1.24), fourth in opponent’s batting average (.217) and sixth in strikeouts per seven innings (5.89). She also holds the program’s single-season marks for lowest ERA (0.95, 2014), fewest walks per seven innings (0.76, 2014), wins (24, 2014), saves (6, 2013), starts (34, 2012) and complete games (28, 2012). Campbell earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from South Alabama in 2014.

Kristina McCain enters her 16th season with the Jaguar program. She originally joined the staff in 2010 as a volunteer assistant coach, before moving into a full-time role a year later. In August 2021, McCain was promoted to associate head coach, and on September 1, 2023, she was promoted to senior associate head coach on the Jaguar staff. McCain oversees both the hitter and slapper development, as well as infield defense.  She assists Jaguar head coach Becky Clark in all phases of game-day strategy, player development and scouting, and oversees game-day filming.  McCain also oversees both official and unofficial recruiting visits, as well as camp coordination. Since moving into her full-time role in 2011, South Alabama has ranked either second or third in the conference in batting average on four occasions.  USA ranked second in the Sun Belt in that category during the 2015 season, and was also second in the league in on-base percentage that same year. Under McCain, South Alabama has led the Sun Belt in triples (2024, 2016, 2014, 2011), doubles (2013, 2012), hit-by-pitch (2014, 2013) and sac bunts (2013, 2012). During McCain’s time on campus, 19 of South Alabama’s 21 multi-home run games have come during that stretch.   South Alabama has also won three Sun Belt Conference tournament championships (’15, ’13, ’12) during that time and made six NCAA Regional appearances (2012-15, ’21 and ‘24) reaching the regional final on five occasions. Over the course of her tenure at South Alabama, several Jaguars have ranked among the Sun Belt Conference’s best at the plate.  USA has also had total of 40 position players earn all-Sun Belt accolades during her time with the program with 20 garnering first-team honors and 20 taking home second-team honors.  South has also had 21 SBC player of the week selections during McCain’s time with the program, with Gabby Stagner and Mackenzie Brasher doing so during the 2024 season. South Alabama lead the SBC in triples with 14 and the club’s .970 fielding percentage was tied for second-best in the conference. Brasher - who earned all-SBC honors for the fourth time in her career - led the Sun Belt Conference and finished tied for 22nd nationally in stolen bases with 28. The Orange Beach, Ala., set program career marks in games played (231), starts (224) and stolen bases (87), while finishing her time in Mobile ranked second in hits (225), third in runs scored (144) and in the Top 10 in batting average during the 2024 campaign. Gabby Stagner also set the new single-season home runs mark at South with 15, and ranked among the conference leaders as she was tied for fourth in triples (3), tied for fifth in doubles (14), slugging percentage (sixth, .694), OPS (seventh, 1.081), 10th in RBI (46). Olivia Branstetter also ranked fourth in the league in hit by pitch with nine. For the third-straight season, South had a player reach double figures in sacrifice hits as Bailey Welch had 10, which were tied for third most in the SBC. Victoria Ortiz and Meredith Keel were each named first-team all-league during the 2023 campaign, while Mackenzie Brasher took home second team honors. Ortiz (second team) and Keel (third team) also earned NFCA all-South Region honors. Ortiz capped off her stellar career at the plate as she became the program’s all-time leader in extra-base hits (81), doubles (46) and career multi-RBI games (37), while ranking second in home runs and third in RBI. Ortiz also neared some single-season marks as she batted .349 with 22 extra-base hits and drove in 49 runs, the most by a player since the 2015 season.  Ortiz set a single-season reached base safely mark as she reached in 29-straight. The mark is second overall only to Brittany Fowler’s 34-game stretch, which covered the end of the 2012 season and the start of the 2013 campaign. Keel was close behind as she batted .342 and scored a team-high 43 runs, tied for seventh most in a season. The slap hitter at the top of the Jaguar lineup also drove in a career-high 30 runs and recorded three home runs. Stagner nearly tied the program’s single-season doubles mark as she recorded 16, which were tied for the most in the SBC and the most by a Jag since the 2019 season. Stagner also became the first player in program history to record three grand slams at South in her career during the year. Sasha Willems and Marley Sims each recorded 10 sacrifice hits, which tied for sixth most in a season, and as a club, the Jags recorded 35 sacrifice hits. Three players earned all-Sun Belt honors for the Jags in 2022; Brasher and Caroline Nichols were named first team, while Keel received second-team honors. Brasher was also named third-team all-South region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Led by Keel’s five, South Alabama recorded 14 triples during the 2022 campaign. The 14 triples tied the 2013 team for second most in a single season, while they were also second-most in the Sun Belt. Ortiz led the club  in 2022 with 26 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs and 12 doubles, while establishing a new single-season slugging percentage (.750) mark for the program.  Stagner earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors after helping South sweep it’s conference-opening series at UTA where she recorded a pair of grand slams. Stagner drove in nine and recorded 10 total bases versus the Mavericks, and became just the fourth player in program history to record two for her career and the first to do so in back-to-back games.  Five of Stagner’s six home runs, 15 of her 21 hits and 20 of her 25 RBI came in league play during the year. Of her 25 RBI, 12 came with two outs, which were most on the Jaguar roster. Kamdyn Kvistad concluded her Jaguar career as the program’s home run leader (36), while ranking second in RBI (128), third in multi-RBI games (31) and fifth in both hits (172) and extra-base hits (63).  During the 2021 season, Keel became the 10th position player to earn NFCA all-region honors after the Jag third baseman ranked 10th in the SBC in hits (54). Kvistad also tied for fourth in the SBC in home runs (11) and tied the program’s career home run as she hit her 28th versus Texas State in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Championships. In 2019, the Jaguars posted some impressive offensive numbers as the club nearly tied the single-season mark for doubles, recording 76 and finishing one shy of the mark set by the 2012 squad. South also saw a power surge in its line up ending the season with 53 home runs, second-most in a season at USA.  South hit two or more home runs 12 times during the season with a season-high four in the series finale against Georgia State on April 13 and series finale at UL Monroe on April 20. The Jags also hit three on three occasions – vs. Mercer (Feb. 17), vs. Savannah State (March 2), at UL Monroe (4/19) and at UL Monroe (4/20). Nine players recorded at least one home run with eight of those finishing the season with three or more.  The Jaguars ranked second in the Sun Belt in doubles and third in home runs, batting average (.291), hits (388) and slugging percentage (.523). Kennedy Cronan led the way with 11 long balls, which were tied for fourth-most in the SBC, tied two other players for second-most in a season and tied a freshman mark. Cronan also earned third-team NFCA all-region honors, marking the ninth-consecutive season in which a Jaguar has earned all-region accolades from the organization.  Brittani Reid and Ortiz also had impressive individual offensive seasons as the duo led the Sun Belt in doubles (17), and set the single-season program mark in that category. Both Reid and Ortiz earned Community Coffee Player of the Week honors during the season and were both named first-team all-league at year’s end, extending South’s streak of first-team honorees to six straight seasons in which one player on the Jag roster has done so. Kaleigh Todd earned first-team honors for the third-straight season – one of only three players in program history to do so – during the 2018 season, while Haleigh Lowe picked up second-team honors.  Todd also earned third-team all-South Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association for the second straight year. Todd finished the 2018 campaign ranked second in the Sun Belt in batting average (.388), while her 69 hits were third-most in the conference.  Todd also ranked among the league leaders in stolen bases (18 – T-fourth), on-base percentage (.432 – seventh) and sacrifice bunts (7 – T-ninth).  Todd had a 14-game hit streak during the season, which was tied for the fifth longest in program history, while her 23-game reached base safely streak was tied for fourth longest.  Lowe hit .304 during the season – making her just the second player in program history to hit .300 or better all four years of her Jaguar career as she joined Brittany Fowler (2010-13).  Lowe set individual personal single-season highs in hits (42), runs (20), doubles (7), triples, home runs (4), total bases (67) and RBI (31).   Lowe’s three triples in ’18 were tied with fellow Jag teammate Brittani Reid for third-most in the SBC, while B. Reid and Kamdyn Kvistad not only led the club with eight home runs apiece, but that total also tied for ninth in the conference.  It marked the first time since the 2013 season that two players have combined to record 16 or more home runs in a single season.  As a team, South Alabama was third in the Sun Belt in triples with eight.  The 32 home runs hit by the Jaguars during the season were the most since hitting 37 during the 2015 season.  The Jags had a power surge towards the end of the season, homering in 14 of their final 27 games, recording 26 in those contests. During the 2018 season, Kvistad (3/27) and Lowe (4/24) earned Community Coffee Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors.  Todd also set new program marks in hits (231), batting average (.374), stolen bases (75) and multi-hit games (63).  Todd also became the fifth player in program history to join the professional ranks as she was the 33rd overall selection by Moh-BEEL! USA in the Inaugural American Softball Association Draft.  Kvistad also became the first player in program history to record three home runs in a single game as she did so with a pair of solo shots and a two-run shot in game two of a doubleheader at Coastal Carolina on April 28.  Katelyn Gruich also had a pair of home runs against Southern (4/11).   During the 2017 season, Todd ranked among the Sun Belt leaders in batting average (second – .398), triples (third – 4), hits (third – 74), stolen bases (third – 19), runs scored (seventh – 43) and on-base percentage (10th – .454).  Her hit total also ranked 35th in the NCAA and ranked as the second-highest number in a single season, while her triples were third for a season.  She set junior marks for batting average, at-bats, hits, triples and her 43 runs scored were third-most for that class. Minahan blasted a team-high eight home runs moving her into a tie for third on the career list with 25.  Her 114 career runs driven in were also fourth-most on the program lists. Along with Todd’s first team nod in ’17, Kristian Foster and Amanda Minahan each captured second-team accolades.  Todd was also selected to the NFCA all-South Region third team. In 2016, Emily Messer (.429) and Todd (.415) ranked second and third, respectively, in batting average in the league.  Their averages set new single-season best at USA and the duo was the first Jag hitters since Tara Donaldson (.401) in 2007 to hit above .400 in a season.  Messer also ranked in the top 30 nationally in that category, while Todd was 53rd. Todd and Messer also ranked fourth and fifth in on-base percentage with a .495 and .487 clip.  Messer’s 76 hits were tied for most in the conference and also set a new program best, while Todd’s 68 hits were fourth-most in a season at USA and ranked seventh in the SBC. Following her senior season, Messer was selected as the 31st overall pick in the 2015 National Pro Fastpitch Draft by the Akron Racers – the first Jaguar position player to be drafted. During the 2015 season, Kaitlyn Griffith became the program’s single-season home run leader as she recorded 13.   McCain was also part of the Jaguar coaching staff which was selected as the NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year during the 2013 season. McCain joined the program after two seasons coaching both Mortimer Jordan (Ala.) High School and the Birmingham Vipers.  While at Mortimer Jordan, McCain helped lead the team to the 2009 Alabama class 5A state championship and a 2010 5A runner-up finish.   McCain also spent time as an assistant coach for the Birmingham Vipers club  team, where she helped lead the 16-and-under team to a 13th-place finish at nationals and the 18-and-under team to a seventh-place finish. The Birmingham, Ala., native graduated from Gardendale High School before attending Auburn University, where she lettered three years and received a freshman all-Southeastern Conference nod in 2004 and second-team all-SEC and all-South Region honors in 2006.      McCain finished amongst Auburn’s top 10 all-time in seven statistical career categories, including batting average (.323), slugging percentage (.457), on-base percentage (.440), hit-by-pitches (14), runs scored (129), hits (163) and stolen bases (30).  She also finished in the top 10 of five single-season categories – batting average, on-base percentage, stolen bases, walks, and runs. McCain graduated from Auburn in 2011 with a bachelors’ degree in art and criminology.

After spending her initial season in Mobile in a support role, Kelly Horne was elevated to a full-time assistant position in the summer of 2024 where she works with the outfield unit. Already familiar with the South Alabama program, Horne joined the staff at South Alabama on September 1, 2023 when she was named the Director of Player Development. Horne assisted with on-campus recruiting and compiling a recruiting database, while also assisting with game and practice film, camp coordination, spring scouting, Name / Image / Likeness (NIL), and oversee all youth and high school teams attending home games. During her first season as a member of the staff, South Alabama made its sixth NCAA Regional appearance, competing in the Gainesville Regional, while Olivia Lackie set the career marks in shutouts, and ended her Jaguar career holding the program marks in appearances (153) and shutouts, while ranking second in opponent batting average (.183), wins (80), saves (11), tied with Hannah Campbell in no-hitters (5), while ranking second complete games (77), innings pitched (774.2) and strikeouts. She also became the second player in program history to be named NFCA All-American (second team) and the the first four-time first-team all-SBC and four-time NFCA all=South region selection. Mackenzie Brasher led the Sun Belt Conference and finished tied for 22nd nationally in stolen bases with 28. The Orange Beach, Ala., set program career marks in games played (231), starts (224) and stolen bases (87), while finishing her time in Mobile ranked second in hits (225), third in runs scored (144) and in the Top 10 in batting average. Gabby Stagner also set the new single-season home runs mark at South with 15 Horne came to South Alabama after lettering at Troy, where she was a three-time all-Sun Belt selection, earning first team honors in 2022 and second team accolades as a senior and as a sophomore. The Tallahassee, Fla., native ended her career starting 212 of the 232 games in which she played, and recorded a career .324 batting average to go along with 178 hits, 104 runs scored, 33 doubles, 32 home runs and 131 RBI. Her career .471 on-base percentage ranks second all-time for the Trojans.   She finished the 2023 season with a .460 on-base percentage, and drew a team-leading 33 walks, which also ranked as third-most in the league.  As a junior, she earned first-team all-league honors as well as being selected to the NFCA South Region First Team. She led Troy in batting average (.353), home runs (14), RBI (28), slugging percentage (.729), on-base percentage (.530) and walks (44). She broke her own school record for on-base percentage, while her home runs ranked fifth, slugging percentage ranked third and her walks ranked second in Troy’s single-season record book. In the Sun Belt, Horne ranked ninth in batting average, second in OPS, fifth in runs scored, first in home runs and on-base percentage and fourth in total bases and slugging percentage. She finished the 2022 campaign with 10 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games, and ranked 18th in the country in on-base percentage and fifth with 0.85 walks per game. At the end of the 2022 season, Horne was a candidate for Sun Belt Conference Female Athlete of the Year where she was one of three finalists for the award based on athletic and academic achievements.   As a sophomore, Horne batted .372 in 54 games, starting all 54 that season for the Trojans. She had 55 hits and 18 doubles, while also homering eight times and driving in 48, and earned first-team all-NFCA South Region honors in addition to her all-league accolades. Horne earned her bachelor of science degree in hospitality, sport and tourism management with a concentration in sport management and a minor in global business from Troy in May 2021. She received her master’s degree in sport administration from her alma mater in May 2023.

Meredith (Tanner) Frisbey begins her 19th year as a member of the South Alabama staff where she has served a variety of different roles. In the summer of 2023, Frisbey was named chief of staff after serving the previous 12 years as the director of softball operations.  Tanner Frisbey was named the program’s director of operations following the 2011 season, and during her first season at USA in 2007, she served as administrative assistant for the team and then moved to team manager prior to the start of the 2008 campaign. In her chief of staff role, Frisbey assists in Community Outreach, Fan Engagement and Softball Development, while also continuing overseeing South’s student managers, the academic progress of student-athletes, the program’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), all student-athlete summer school and fifth-year needs, day-to-day student-athlete administrative issues and on-campus housing for student-athletes, as well as coordinating all team travel, and is responsible for processing expense reports, game contacts and monitoring monthly financial budgets.   During her time with the program, South has claimed three Sun Belt Conference Tournament titles (2012, ’13 and ’15) and advanced to the NCAA Regional final in six times (2012, ’13, ’14,’15, ’21 and ‘24).  The Jaguars have also eclipsed the 40-win mark four times during that span.   Over that span, 66 student-athletes have received all-Sun Belt honors – 32 first-team selections and 34 second-team selections.  USA has also had 25 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region selections and three NFCA Second-Team All-American selections.  During that same time, South Alabama has had a SBC Player of the Year selection (Brittany Fowler, 2013), Pitcher of the Year selection (Olivia Lackie, 2023), two Freshmen of the Year selections (Haley Fagan, 2013 and Hannah Campbell, 2011) and a SBC Newcomer of the Year selection (Tara Donaldson, 2007). The Jaguars have also excelled in the classroom as USA has had 160 student-athletes named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List, while 109 student-athletes have earned Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll honors. Additionally, 140 players have been named to the NFCA All-America Scholar list, an award given to student-athletes that acquire at least a 3.5 grade-point average or higher during the academic year.  The Jags have had at least seven honorees for the annual award every year since 2007 and posted a program-record 18 selections for the 2020-21 academic year, and 16 the following year. Frisbey came to South Alabama after three-year career at the University of Mobile.  While at Mobile, Frisbey was an NAIA all-conference, all-region and second-team All-America selection, as well as a National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association first-team all-region and second-team All-America selection in 2005. In 2004, Frisbey was named NFCA Diamond Catcher of the Year, while also making the NAIA and NFCA first-team All-American and all-region teams, and was also a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference all-conference selection. Frisbey was named first-team all-region and NFCA second-team all-region, as well as being named to the NAIA all-tournament team, in 2003. She transferred to Mobile after spending her freshman season at Northwest Florida State.  Frisbey graduated from Mobile in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in human performance and exercise science and received a master’s degree in exercise science from the University of South Alabama in 2011. She is a native of Hoover, Ala., and graduated from Hoover High School. Frisbey is married to Jinni Frisbey, the Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator/Title IX Coordinator/Football Chief of Staff; the couple have one daughter, Hayden Leigh.

Carsyn Bates joined the sports performance staff in August 2023, and she works primarily with the softball and women’s tennis programs at South Alabama. During her first season as a member of the staff, South Alabama made its sixth NCAA Regional appearance, competing in the Gainesville Regional, while Olivia Lackie set the career marks in shutouts, and ended her Jaguar career holding the program marks in appearances (153) and shutouts, while ranking second in opponent batting average (.183), wins (80), saves (11), tied with Campbell in no-hitters (5), while ranking second complete games (77), innings pitched (774.2) and strikeouts. She also became the second player in program history to be named NFCA All-American (second team) and the the first four-time first-team all-SBC and four-time NFCA all=South region selection. Mackenzie Brasher led the Sun Belt Conference and finished tied for 22nd nationally in stolen bases with 28. The Orange Beach, Ala., set program career marks in games played (231), starts (224) and stolen bases (87), while finishing her time in Mobile ranked second in hits (225), third in runs scored (144) and in the Top 10 in batting average. Gabby Stagner also set the new single-season home runs mark at South with 15 Before coming to South Alabama, Bates served as a graduate assistant coach for a year at Lander University where she served as the primary strength coach for the women’s rugby, men’s/women’s tennis, and men’s/women’s golf teams. Prior to her time at Lander, Bates completed internships with Florida Atlantic football program and Webber International where she primarily worked with softball, women’s lacrosse, and women’s volleyball. Bates received her bachelor of science in athletic training from Florida State in April 2021.  She is currently working on obtaining a masters degree in exercise science with a concentration in sports performance and rehabilitation. Bates is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA.