Mississippi State’s unexpected parting of ways with head coach Vann Stuedeman on Tuesday morning has taken the softball world by storm. Though late in the offseason, the Bulldogs are expected to have no shortage of candidates for their newly-open head coaching position. Let’s take a look at some of the candidates that could be in line for the job.
Gerry Glasco
Current job: Head coach, Louisiana-Lafayette
Let’s talk about an obvious candidate first, one that’s already being fervently discussed in some circles. During his time as an assistant coach throughout the SEC, it was widely expected that Glasco would be an SEC head coach at some point. Having just completed his second season as head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette, Glasco has proven himself as a head coach and could already be in line for a promotion to the sport’s deepest conference. Don’t count out the power of the Cajun faithful, however – few places revere the sport of softball like Lafayette, and Glasco has already become a fan favorite in Cajun land.
Sami Strinz-Ward
Current job: Head coach, Loyola Marymount
Strinz-Ward’s name has been one of the most popular around the coaching carousel this offseason, as she’s been rumored to be in contention for a number of positions. In just a few short years at the helm of Loyola Marymount, her alma mater, Strinz-Ward has turned the Lions into a perennial contender. Three times the West Coast Conference’s Coach of the Year, Strinz-Ward led the Lions to the NISC tournament championship in 2018, while the team’s 2019 campaign included a victory over Northwestern and a tight 3-1 loss to eventual national champion UCLA. Coming from the West Coast might seem like it would dampen Strinz-Ward’s chances, but after a bevy of success in a short time at LMU, she’s in line for a top-level move sooner rather than later.
Mark Montgomery
Current job: Head coach, Louisiana Tech
If the Bulldogs look for a sustained level of success as a primary factor in candidates, Montgomery is another name that should be seriously discussed around the table in Starkville. In seven years in Ruston, Montgomery has built the Lady Techsters into a perennial contender, with a pair of NCAA tournament appearances to his credit. The Lady Techsters saw back-to-back C-USA players of the year in 2018 and ’19, while Montgomery’s staff earned regional Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2019.
Sam Marder
Current job: Associate head coach, Texas Tech
Another name that has popped up for a number of head coaching vacancies this summer, Marder’s leadership of the Texas Tech offense has buoyed her candidacy, though the position on the Red Raiders’ staff and that team’s recent success allows the ex-Ohio State star the opportunity to be “choosy” when entertaining new job offers. Nevertheless, she should be in line for a program of her own in short order.
Jimmy Kolaitis
Current job: Head coach, UAB
Before he accepted the UAB head coaching position last season, Kolaitis’ name was one of the most popular on the coaching carousel year-in and year-out. A terrific offensive mind and renowned recruiter, even now as a new head coach in his current spot, Kolaitis’s coaching history and expertise in the southeast region continue to make him a prime candidate for a continued quick climb up the coaching ladder.
Samantha Ricketts
Current job: Associate head coach, Mississippi State
The Bulldogs’ associate head coach, Ricketts is the top-ranked assistant on the Bulldogs’ active coaching staff and should get a long look for the head position. She won’t be rubber-stamped into the role, but Ricketts has stuck around during some lean years in Starkville and loyalty to the program could serve her well, as she is also popular with members of the team’s roster and has a hearty role in the team’s offensive preparation.
Ruben Felix
Current job: Associate head coach, Ole Miss
Felix joined the Ole Miss staff after working in Major League Baseball for several years, and has played a hearty role in the Rebels’ pair of Super Regional appearances in 2017 and 2019. An understated member of the 2017 conference champions’ staff. Felix has an extensive baseball background, which could give him an added bonus, as Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen is a former longtime baseball coach.
Yvette Healy
Current job: Head coach, Wisconsin
The 2019 season saw Wisconsin reach the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year, with a 43-14 overall record, while the Badgers have established themselves as a perennial Big Ten contender over the last several years. Healy has spurned other jobs in the past to remain at Wisconsin – where she’s coached since 2010 – but should certainly garner some interest.
Rich Calvert
Current job: Head coach, Drake
Sources have confirmed to JWOS that Calvert is an early, popular candidate in Starkville (a candidacy that Eric Lopez of Fastpitch News first mentioned). In nearly two decades at Drake, Calvert broke a 14-year NCAA tournament drought in 2008, when he led the program to an NCAA regional and led the team to the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years in 2018 and ’19 for the first time in program history.
Loren LaPorte
Current job: Head coach, James Madison
After being promoted internally to JMU’s head coaching position, LaPorte has proven her worth as a head coach, including leading her Dukes to the Super Regional round this season as the only non-seeded team to reach that level of the postseason. In just two years as head coach, LaPorte made sure JMU didn’t miss a beat, even during Megan Good’s redshirt 2018 season. It might be hard to pry her away from James Madison, but LaPorte is a candidate that could sneak up as a game-changer in the race.
